Frost Dates for 66739 — Galena, Kansas

Half of springs at Joplin Regional Airport, MO see their last 32°F night by April 9; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 26. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 20 20%, and after April 26 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 85% of the 110 Kansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 27 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 200 days in a typical year, longer than at 85% of the 110 Kansas stations; it reaches 221 days one year in ten and falls short of 178 one year in ten. On average 87 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 21, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and February 25.

July is the warmest month at Joplin Regional Airport, MO, averaging 90°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 25°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 72% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,594 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 95% of the 110 Kansas stations. 37% of them (1,714) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 927. Precipitation totals 45.7 inches a year, most in May (6.6") and least in January (1.9"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbus, KS, 12 miles northwest of Galena, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 5), a first frost 4 days later (October 31), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Galena usually arrives around December 16, and the last of the season around February 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Waco 4N, MO, 14 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 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 66739 is 9 miles from Joplin Regional Airport, MO, which stands at 980 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 64804 (Joplin). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 66739 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.