Frost Dates for 72401 — Jonesboro, Arkansas

Half of springs at Jonesboro 2 NE, AR see their last 32°F night by April 1; only one in ten is past it by March 15, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 11 20%, and after April 18 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 1 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 215 days in a typical year, shorter than at 64% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 238 days one year in ten and falls short of 193 one year in ten. On average 75 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 11 days longer, to about April 12, and return around October 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 25 and February 12.

July is the warmest month at Jonesboro 2 NE, AR, averaging 90°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,706 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 71% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (1,814) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 919. Precipitation totals 52.1 inches a year, most in May (5.7") and least in June (3.4"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Jonesboro Municipal Airport, AR, 2 miles southeast of Jonesboro, has a last frost 9 days earlier (March 23), a first frost 8 days later (November 9), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Jonesboro usually arrives around January 11, and the last of the season around February 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Jonesboro 2 NE, AR, 1.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 86% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72401 is 2 miles from Jonesboro 2 NE, AR, which stands at 310 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72401 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.