Frost Dates for 72143 — Searcy, Arkansas

Half of springs at Searcy, AR see their last 32°F night by March 27; only one in ten is past it by March 5, and one in ten still has one after April 12. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 12 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 8 in half of years, as early as October 24 one year in ten, and holds off past November 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 31, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 228 days in a typical year, longer than at 61% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 252 days one year in ten and falls short of 206 one year in ten. On average 72 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 11 days longer, to about April 7, and return around October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 84%.

July is the warmest month at Searcy, AR, averaging 93°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 30°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 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,398 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,130) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,017. Precipitation totals 51.8 inches a year, most in May (5.9") and least in June (3.0"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Des Arc, AR, 23 miles southeast of Searcy, has a last frost 16 days earlier (March 11), a first frost 6 days later (November 14), a season 19 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Searcy usually arrives around January 16, and the last of the season around February 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Searcy, AR, 2.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 56% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 48 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72143 is 2 miles from Searcy, AR, which stands at 230 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72143 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.