Frost Dates for 71655 — Monticello, Arkansas

Half of springs at Monticello Municipal Airport, AR see their last 32°F night by March 18; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 6 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 12 in half of years, as early as October 28 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 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 23, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 238 days in a typical year, longer than at 80% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 263 days one year in ten and falls short of 213 one year in ten. On average 51 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 14 days longer, to about April 1, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 49%.

July is the warmest month at Monticello Municipal Airport, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°F and 34°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 83% of years and April still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,874 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 98% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 40% of them (2,362) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,009. Precipitation totals 53.1 inches a year, most in April (6.0") and least in September (2.8"); May to September bring 33% of it.

The nearest other station, Warren 2 WSW, AR, 19 miles west of Monticello, has a last frost 2 days later (March 20), a first frost 1 day earlier (November 11), a season 3 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 15 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Monticello Municipal Airport, AR, 1.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71655 is 1 mile from Monticello Municipal Airport, AR, which stands at 290 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71655 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.