Frost Dates for 72348 — Hughes, Arkansas

Half of springs at Tunica 2 N, MS see their last 32°F night by March 14; only one in ten is past it by February 23, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 27 20%, and after April 2 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 15 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 19, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 248 days in a typical year, longer than at 99% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 273 days one year in ten and falls short of 222 one year in ten. On average 53 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 27, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 62%.

July is the warmest month at Tunica 2 N, MS, averaging 91°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°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 October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 78% of years and April still brings one in 13% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,599 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 85% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 40% of them (2,241) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 995. Precipitation totals 56.7 inches a year, most in April (6.0") and least in August (3.2"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR, 18 miles northeast of Hughes, has a last frost 2 days later (March 16), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 11), a season 6 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, 19.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 72348 is 15 miles from Tunica 2 N, MS, which stands at 206 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 38676 (Tunica). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72348 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.