Frost Dates for 71968 — Royal, Arkansas

Half of springs at Blakely Mountain Dam, AR see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 14, and one in ten still has one after April 20. Planting tender crops after April 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 14 20%, and after April 20 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 4 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 216 days in a typical year, shorter than at 63% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 239 days one year in ten and falls short of 193 one year in ten. On average 80 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 16, and return around October 26. 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 Blakely Mountain Dam, AR, averaging 91°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 29°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 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,621 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 75% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 37% of them (1,727) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 884. Precipitation totals 57.9 inches a year, most in May (6.5") and least in August (3.3"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Hot Springs 1 NNE, AR, 12 miles east of Royal and 200 feet higher, has a last frost 15 days earlier (March 19), a first frost 9 days later (November 13), a season 23 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Blakely Mountain Dam, AR, 4.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71968 is 5 miles from Blakely Mountain Dam, AR, which stands at 426 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 71964 (Pearcy). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71968 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.