Frost Dates for 72437 — Lake City, Arkansas

Half of springs at Jonesboro Municipal Airport, AR see their last 32°F night by March 23; only one in ten is past it by March 7, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 9 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 9 in half of years, as early as October 27 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 30, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 230 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 254 days one year in ten and falls short of 207 one year in ten. On average 65 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 12 days longer, to about April 4, and return around October 30. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 81%.

July is the warmest month at Jonesboro Municipal Airport, AR, averaging 91°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 31°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 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,169 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 57% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,032) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 984. Precipitation totals 48.6 inches a year, most in April (5.2") and least in June (3.1"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Jonesboro 2 NE, AR, 12 miles west of Lake City, has a last frost 9 days later (April 1), a first frost 8 days earlier (November 1), a season 15 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lake City 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, 12.2 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 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72437 is 11 miles from Jonesboro Municipal Airport, AR, which stands at 262 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 72404 (Jonesboro). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72437 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.