Frost Dates for 71770 — Waldo, Arkansas

Half of springs at Magnolia, AR see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by March 9, and one in ten still has one after April 17. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 10 20%, and after April 17 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 2 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 218 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 244 days one year in ten and falls short of 196 one year in ten. On average 58 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 10 days longer, to about April 10, and return around October 25. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 76%.

July is the warmest month at Magnolia, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°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 46% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,427 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,138) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 959. Precipitation totals 56.3 inches a year, most in March (6.6") and least in July (3.3"); May to September bring 35% of it.

The nearest other station, Lewisville, AR, 15 miles west of Waldo, has a last frost 12 days earlier (March 19), a first frost 10 days later (November 12), a season 20 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Waldo usually arrives around January 27, and the last of the season around February 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Magnolia, AR, 9.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 60% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 57 days after the last snow.

ZIP 71770 is 10 miles from Magnolia, AR, which stands at 372 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 71753 (Magnolia). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71770 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.