Frost Dates for 72227 — Little Rock, Arkansas

Half of springs at Little Rock, AR see their last 32°F night by March 16; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 2 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 41% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 16 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 11 days later, around November 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 245 days in a typical year, longer than at 91% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 269 days one year in ten and falls short of 221 one year in ten. On average 41 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 March 28, and return around November 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 75%.

July is the warmest month at Little Rock, AR, averaging 91°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 32°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 84% of years and April still brings one in 13% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,311 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,082) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 975. Precipitation totals 51.8 inches a year, most in April (5.5") and least in September (3.1"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Marche, AR, 8 miles north of Little Rock and 296 feet lower, has a last frost 16 days later (April 1), a first frost 15 days earlier (November 1), a season 32 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Little Rock usually arrives around January 6, and the last of the season around February 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Little Rock, AR, 7.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 90% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72227 is 8 miles from Little Rock, AR, which stands at 568 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 72076 (Jacksonville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72227 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.