Frost Dates for 71603 — Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Half of springs at Pine Bluff, AR see their last 32°F night by March 14; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 27 20%, and after April 2 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 16 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 19, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 245 days in a typical year, longer than at 91% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 267 days one year in ten and falls short of 221 one year in ten. On average 50 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 15 days longer, to about March 29, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 46%.

July is the warmest month at Pine Bluff, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 85% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,651 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 40% of them (2,242) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,004. Precipitation totals 53.8 inches a year, most in April (5.7") and least in June (3.5"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Rison, AR, 19 miles southwest of Pine Bluff, has a last frost 3 days later (March 17), a first frost 2 days earlier (November 14), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Pine Bluff usually arrives around January 20, and the last of the season around January 31. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pine Bluff, AR, 2.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 81% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 71603 is 3 miles from Pine Bluff, AR, which stands at 230 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71603 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.