Frost Dates for 72331 — Earle, Arkansas

Half of springs at West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR see their last 32°F night by March 16; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 3. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 29 20%, and after April 3 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 60% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 11 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 22, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 242 days in a typical year, longer than at 89% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 265 days one year in ten and falls short of 217 one year in ten. On average 58 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 March 29, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 55%.

July is the warmest month at West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR, averaging 91°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 33°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 86% of years and April still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,557 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 40% of them (2,222) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 986. Precipitation totals 50.4 inches a year, most in March (5.1") and least in August (2.4"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Wynne, AR, 19 miles west of Earle, has a last frost 7 days later (March 23), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 7), a season 11 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at W Memphis, AR, 18.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 72331 is 16 miles from West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR, which stands at 214 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 72364 (Marion). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72331 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.