Frost Dates for 65717 — Norwood, Missouri

Half of springs at Mansfield, MO see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 26, and one in ten still has one after April 28. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 28 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 66% of the 158 Missouri stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 26 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 197 days in a typical year, longer than at 58% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 218 days one year in ten and falls short of 175 one year in ten. On average 105 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 7 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Mansfield, MO, averaging 88°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 77% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,978 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,427) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 851. Precipitation totals 47.3 inches a year, most in May (5.5") and least in January (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Mountain Grove 2 N, MO, 9 miles northeast of Norwood, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 2 days later (October 28), a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Norwood usually arrives around December 25, and the last of the season around February 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mansfield, MO, 9.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 48 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65717 is 9 miles from Mansfield, MO, which stands at 1,448 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 65704 (Mansfield). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65717 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.