Frost Dates for 71941 — Donaldson, Arkansas

Half of springs at Hot Springs Asos, AR see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by March 3, and one in ten still has one after April 13. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 13 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 9 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 29, 15 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 255 days one year in ten and falls short of 205 one year in ten. On average 52 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 7, and return around October 31. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 64%.

July is the warmest month at Hot Springs Asos, AR, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 53°F and 33°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 87% of years and April still brings one in 32% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,616 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 89% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,213) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,015. Precipitation totals 52.8 inches a year, most in May (5.9") and least in August (3.3"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Arkadelphia 2 N, AR, 10 miles southwest of Donaldson and 339 feet lower, has a last frost 2 days later (March 26), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 4), a season 5 days shorter.

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, 9.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71941 is 6 miles from Hot Springs Asos, AR, which stands at 535 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71941 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.