Frost Dates for 71720 — Bearden, Arkansas

Half of springs at Camden 1, AR see their last 32°F night by March 21; only one in ten is past it by March 2, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 7 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 41% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 6 in half of years, as early as October 24 one year in ten, and holds off past November 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 230 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 258 days one year in ten and falls short of 207 one year in ten. On average 63 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 4, and return around October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 63%.

July is the warmest month at Camden 1, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 53°F and 31°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 89% of years and April still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,402 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 71% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 40% of them (2,139) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 976. Precipitation totals 53.2 inches a year, most in December (5.5") and least in August (3.2"); May to September bring 36% of it.

The nearest other station, Fordyce, AR, 16 miles northeast of Bearden, has a last frost 5 days later (March 26), the same first-frost date, a season 4 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 13 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Camden 1, AR, 14.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71720 is 14 miles from Camden 1, AR, which stands at 116 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 71701 (Camden). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71720 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.