Frost Dates for 72104 — Malvern, Arkansas

Half of springs at Malvern, AR see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by March 11, and one in ten still has one after April 16. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 11 20%, and after April 16 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 65% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 5 in half of years, as early as October 25 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 220 days in a typical year, shorter than at 57% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 244 days one year in ten and falls short of 196 one year in ten. On average 68 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 12 days longer, to about April 12, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 86%.

July is the warmest month at Malvern, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°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 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,154 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 56% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (1,995) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 959. Precipitation totals 57.5 inches a year, most in April (6.1") and least in August (3.7"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Hot Springs Asos, AR, 15 miles west of Malvern and 235 feet higher, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 24), a first frost 4 days later (November 9), a season 10 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Malvern, AR, 2.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 72104 is 3 miles from Malvern, AR, which stands at 300 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72104 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.