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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 71744 — Hampton, Arkansas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Calion L&D, AR (77 ft), 15 miles south.

Updated

In Hampton, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 18 in half of years and has passed by April 6 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 7, as early as October 24 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 235 days (NOAA, Calion L&D, AR).

Last spring frost
March 18

50% probability

First fall frost
November 7

50% probability

Growing season
235 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
36%

10 of 28 observed

Snow per year
0.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Hampton

Half of springs at Calion L&D, AR see their last 32°F night by March 18; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 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 7 in half of years, as early as October 24 one year in ten, and holds off past November 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 21; 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 235 days in a typical year, longer than at 75% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 260 days one year in ten and falls short of 209 one year in ten. On average 60 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 April 2, and return around October 30. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 50%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 14Mar 20Mar 26Mar 30Apr 2Apr 5Apr 7Apr 13Apr 20
32°FFeb 28Mar 6Mar 10Mar 15Mar 18Mar 22Mar 27Apr 1Apr 6
28°FFeb 10Feb 21Feb 26Feb 28Mar 4Mar 8Mar 11Mar 16Mar 23
24°F99% of yrsJan 19Jan 29Feb 2Feb 12Feb 17Feb 23Feb 28Mar 4Mar 10
20°F87% of yrsDec 30Jan 10Jan 19Jan 25Jan 31Feb 2Feb 8Feb 15Feb 27
16°F50% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 16Oct 20Oct 23Oct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 13
32°FOct 24Oct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19Nov 27
28°FNov 3Nov 7Nov 12Nov 16Nov 21Nov 26Dec 1Dec 4Dec 11
24°F99% of yrsNov 12Nov 19Nov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 10Dec 19Dec 28Jan 5
20°F87% of yrsNov 27Dec 6Dec 14Dec 21Dec 27Jan 1Jan 6Jan 14Jan 25
16°F50% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Calion L&D, AR, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 71744 →Compare Hampton with another place →

Weather by month in Hampton

July is the warmest month at Calion L&D, AR, averaging 93°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°F and 32°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 83% of years and April still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,579 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 83% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 40% of them (2,228) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 986. Precipitation totals 50.7 inches a year, most in April (5.5") and least in September (3.1"); May to September bring 36% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Calion L&D, AR
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan55324.3100%1747
Feb59354.398%1373
Mar67435.183%5208
Apr75505.522%<1391
May83604.60%0657
Jun89684.10%0852
Jul93713.20%0986
Aug93703.50%0964
Sep87633.10%0750
Oct77513.823%1429
Nov65403.791%7157
Dec57355.5100%1666

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Calion L&D, AR (77 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Camden 1, AR, 20 miles west of Hampton, has a last frost 3 days later (March 21), a first frost 1 day earlier (November 6), a season 5 days shorter.

Frost dates for 71701 (Camden) →

When it snows in Hampton, Arkansas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 28 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Calion L&D, AR, 14.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 71744

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Hampton, Arkansas
WhenWhat to do
January 7 – January 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 21 – February 4Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 18 – March 4Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 18 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 15Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 24Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 7 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 71744 is 15 miles from Calion L&D, AR, which stands at 77 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71744 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.

Frost dates across Arkansas →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8a places in Arkansas