Frost Dates for 72040 — Des Arc, Arkansas

Half of springs at Des Arc, AR see their last 32°F night by March 11; only one in ten is past it by February 23, and one in ten still has one after April 1. Planting tender crops after March 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after April 1 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 97% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 14 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 19, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 247 days in a typical year, longer than at 97% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 271 days one year in ten and falls short of 221 one year in ten. On average 50 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 16 days longer, to about March 27, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 63%.

July is the warmest month at Des Arc, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December 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 79% of years and April still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,606 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 87% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 40% of them (2,242) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,014. Precipitation totals 50.0 inches a year, most in April (5.5") and least in August (2.9"); May to September bring 35% of it.

The nearest other station, Brinkley, AR, 18 miles east of Des Arc, has a last frost 7 days later (March 18), a first frost 3 days earlier (November 11), a season 10 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 13 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Georgetown, AR, 12.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 72040 is 2 miles from Des Arc, AR, which stands at 200 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 72064 (Hazen). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72040 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.