Frost Dates for 66044 — Lawrence, Kansas

Half of springs at Lawrence Municipal Airport, KS see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 57% of the 110 Kansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 17 in half of years, as early as September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 27, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 177 days in a typical year, shorter than at 79% of the 110 Kansas stations; it reaches 200 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 123 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 9 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 25 and March 7.

July is the warmest month at Lawrence Municipal Airport, KS, averaging 91°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 18°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,125 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 56% of the 110 Kansas stations. 37% of them (1,513) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 899. Precipitation totals 35.6 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in January (0.9"); May to September bring 59% of it.

The nearest other station, Lawrence, KS, 2 miles southwest of Lawrence and 218 feet higher, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 12), a first frost 11 days later (October 28), a season 22 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lawrence usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around February 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lawrence, KS, 2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 92% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 53 days after the last snow.

ZIP 66044 is 2 miles from Lawrence Municipal Airport, KS, which stands at 832 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 66044 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.