Frost Dates for 71743 — Gurdon, Arkansas

Half of springs at Prescott 2 NNW, AR see their last 32°F night by March 29; only one in ten is past it by March 9, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 8 20%, and after April 15 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 23 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 31, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 224 days in a typical year, shorter than at 47% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 248 days one year in ten and falls short of 203 one year in ten. On average 62 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 13 days longer, to about April 11, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 85%.

July is the warmest month at Prescott 2 NNW, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 53°F and 30°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 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,262 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 62% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,050) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 958. Precipitation totals 56.7 inches a year, most in May (5.9") and least in August (3.4"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Arkadelphia 2 N, AR, 16 miles north of Gurdon, has a last frost 3 days earlier (March 26), a first frost 2 days earlier (November 4), a season 1 day longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 11 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Arkadelphia 2 N, AR, 16.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71743 is 16 miles from Prescott 2 NNW, AR, which stands at 308 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 71857 (Prescott). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71743 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.