Frost Dates for 72210 — Little Rock, Arkansas

Half of springs at Benton, AR see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by March 3, and one in ten still has one after April 13. Planting tender crops after April 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 13 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 7 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 29, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 229 days in a typical year, longer than at 62% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 254 days one year in ten and falls short of 203 one year in ten. On average 64 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 14 days longer, to about April 7, and return around October 30. 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 Benton, AR, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 53°F and 31°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 90% of years and April still brings one in 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,499 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 76% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,144) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,011. Precipitation totals 53.4 inches a year, most in April (5.6") and least in August (3.5"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Little Rock Airport Adams Field, AR, 13 miles east of Little Rock, has a last frost 3 days earlier (March 21), a first frost 3 days later (November 10), a season 5 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, 2.2 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 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72210 is 13 miles from Benton, AR, which stands at 310 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 72015 (Benton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72210 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.