Frost Dates for 72512 — Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas

Half of springs at Salem, AR see their last 32°F night by April 8; only one in ten is past it by March 22, and one in ten still has one after April 25. Planting tender crops after April 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 19 20%, and after April 25 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 October 30 in half of years, as early as October 18 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 13, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 204 days in a typical year, shorter than at 86% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 225 days one year in ten and falls short of 184 one year in ten. On average 94 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 20, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 15 and February 21.

July is the warmest month at Salem, AR, averaging 90°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 25°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 72% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,353 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 90% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 38% of them (1,633) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 888. Precipitation totals 49.5 inches a year, most in April (5.3") and least in January (3.4"); May to September bring 41% of it.

The nearest other station, Evening Shade 1 NNE, AR, 13 miles southeast of Horseshoe Bend and 166 feet lower, has a last frost 6 days later (April 14), a first frost 10 days earlier (October 20), a season 14 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Horseshoe Bend usually arrives around December 25, and the last of the season around February 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Evening Shade 1 NNE, AR, 12.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72512 is 10 miles from Salem, AR, which stands at 680 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 72576 (Salem). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72512 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.