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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 72416 — Bono, Arkansas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Jonesboro 2 NE, AR (310 ft), 9 miles southeast.

Updated

In Bono, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 1 in half of years and has passed by April 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 1, as early as October 21 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 215 days (NOAA, Jonesboro 2 NE, AR).

Last spring frost
April 1

50% probability

First fall frost
November 1

50% probability

Growing season
215 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

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

First snow
January 11

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 8

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
86%

24 of 28 observed

Snow per year
3.9"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Bono

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.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 27Apr 2Apr 6Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 19Apr 24Apr 30
32°FMar 15Mar 21Mar 25Mar 29Apr 1Apr 5Apr 7Apr 11Apr 18
28°FMar 1Mar 7Mar 13Mar 16Mar 20Mar 23Mar 28Apr 1Apr 6
24°FFeb 18Feb 25Feb 28Mar 4Mar 8Mar 12Mar 16Mar 20Mar 27
20°FJan 31Feb 9Feb 16Feb 22Feb 28Mar 2Mar 6Mar 12Mar 17
16°F98% of yrsJan 13Jan 25Jan 31Feb 5Feb 12Feb 18Feb 25Mar 2Mar 10
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 12Oct 16Oct 19Oct 21Oct 23Oct 25Oct 28Oct 30Nov 3
32°FOct 21Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 10Nov 16
28°FOct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 15Nov 19Nov 24Dec 1
24°FNov 4Nov 9Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 13
20°FNov 13Nov 21Nov 27Dec 1Dec 5Dec 10Dec 18Dec 25Jan 1
16°F98% of yrsNov 28Dec 5Dec 11Dec 20Dec 25Dec 30Jan 2Jan 8Jan 17

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Jonesboro 2 NE, 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 72416 →Compare Bono with another place →

Weather by month in Bono

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Jonesboro 2 NE, AR
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan46273.9100%2115
Feb51304.1100%1527
Mar60385.297%9110
Apr71485.451%1298
May79575.71%0565
Jun87663.40%0799
Jul90703.60%0919
Aug89683.70%0883
Sep83603.50%0645
Oct72484.045%1335
Nov59374.999%988
Dec49304.7100%1822

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Jonesboro 2 NE, AR (310 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, Jonesboro Municipal Airport, AR, 11 miles southeast of Bono, has a last frost 9 days earlier (March 23), a first frost 8 days later (November 9), a season 15 days longer.

Frost dates for 72404 (Jonesboro) →

When it snows in Bono, Arkansas

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bono 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, 9.4 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.

Planting calendar for 72416

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Bono, Arkansas
WhenWhat to do
January 21 – February 4Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 4 – February 18Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 4 – March 18Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 1 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 9Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 18Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 1 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 72416 is 9 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; its figures are presented in full for 72401 (Jonesboro). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72416 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