Frost Dates for 71742 — Fordyce, Arkansas

Half of springs at Fordyce, AR see their last 32°F night by March 26; only one in ten is past it by March 6, and one in ten still has one after April 13. Planting tender crops after April 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 7 20%, and after April 13 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 60% 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 24 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 30, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 226 days in a typical year, longer than at 55% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 251 days one year in ten and falls short of 201 one year in ten. On average 70 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 7, and return around October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 73%.

July is the warmest month at Fordyce, AR, averaging 91°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°F and 31°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 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,213 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 60% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,041) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 953. Precipitation totals 57.6 inches a year, most in December (6.0") and least in September (3.6"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Rison, AR, 16 miles northeast of Fordyce, has a last frost 9 days earlier (March 17), a first frost 8 days later (November 14), a season 15 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Fordyce, AR, 2.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71742 is 2 miles from Fordyce, AR, which stands at 230 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71742 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.