Frost Dates for 72209 — Little Rock, Arkansas

Half of springs at Little Rock Airport Adams Field, AR see their last 32°F night by March 21; only one in ten is past it by March 2, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 6 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 10 in half of years, as early as October 29 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 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 234 days in a typical year, longer than at 73% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 257 days one year in ten and falls short of 210 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 13 days longer, to about April 3, and return around October 31. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 81%.

July is the warmest month at Little Rock Airport Adams Field, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 31°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 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,263 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 63% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,052) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 975. Precipitation totals 50.6 inches a year, most in April (5.6") and least in September (3.0"); May to September bring 36% of it.

The nearest other station, Little Rock, AR, 12 miles northeast of Little Rock and 310 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (March 16), a first frost 6 days later (November 16), a season 11 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Little Rock usually arrives around January 7, and the last of the season around February 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Crystal Valley, AR, 5.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 82% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72209 is 8 miles from Little Rock Airport Adams Field, AR, which stands at 258 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72209 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.