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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 72364 — Marion, Arkansas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR (214 ft), 5 miles south.

Updated

In Marion, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 16 in half of years and has passed by April 3 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 11, as early as October 30 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 242 days (NOAA, West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR).

Last spring frost
March 16

50% probability

First fall frost
November 11

50% probability

Growing season
242 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
38%

10 of 26 observed

Snow per year
1.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Marion

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%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 9Mar 16Mar 20Mar 25Mar 29Apr 1Apr 4Apr 8Apr 13
32°FFeb 28Mar 4Mar 9Mar 12Mar 16Mar 19Mar 24Mar 29Apr 3
28°FFeb 10Feb 18Feb 24Feb 28Mar 2Mar 5Mar 9Mar 14Mar 22
24°FJan 22Jan 31Feb 6Feb 12Feb 18Feb 23Feb 28Mar 4Mar 11
20°F90% of yrsJan 3Jan 12Jan 21Jan 27Jan 31Feb 6Feb 11Feb 19Feb 28
16°F55% of yrsDec 31Jan 8Jan 14Jan 18Jan 23Jan 28Jan 31Feb 6Feb 18
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 20Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 16
32°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 6Nov 8Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Dec 1
28°FNov 7Nov 13Nov 17Nov 20Nov 24Nov 29Dec 2Dec 8Dec 17
24°FNov 18Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6Dec 12Dec 20Dec 26Jan 1Jan 8
20°F90% of yrsDec 2Dec 12Dec 23Dec 28Jan 1Jan 6Jan 12Jan 20Jan 31
16°F55% of yrsDec 20Dec 30Jan 1Jan 6Jan 10Jan 14Jan 19Jan 25Feb 3

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 72364 →Compare Marion with another place →

Weather by month in Marion

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan50333.8100%1837
Feb54364.3100%1463
Mar63435.186%5178
Apr73525.015%<1392
May82625.00%0674
Jun89694.10%0877
Jul91724.10%0986
Aug91712.40%0967
Sep86643.10%0751
Oct75524.115%1430
Nov62424.588%6147
Dec53364.999%1554

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at West Memphis Municipal Airport, AR (214 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, W Memphis, AR, 5 miles south of Marion, has a last frost 3 days later (March 19), a first frost 1 day earlier (November 10), a season 7 days shorter.

Frost dates for 72301 (West Memphis) →

When it snows in Marion, Arkansas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at W Memphis, AR, 5.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 72364

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Marion, Arkansas
WhenWhat to do
January 5 – January 19Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 19 – February 2Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 16 – March 2Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 16 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 19Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 28Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 11 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 72364 is 5 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. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72364 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.

Frost dates across Arkansas →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8a places in Arkansas