Frost Dates for 72521 — Cave City, Arkansas

Half of springs at Evening Shade 1 NNE, AR see their last 32°F night by April 14; only one in ten is past it by March 29, and one in ten still has one after April 29. Planting tender crops after April 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 24 20%, and after April 29 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 86% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 20 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 190 days in a typical year, shorter than at 97% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 209 days one year in ten and falls short of 167 one year in ten. On average 98 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 26, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and February 25.

July is the warmest month at Evening Shade 1 NNE, AR, averaging 89°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 24°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 83% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,199 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 95% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 38% of them (1,576) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 865. Precipitation totals 51.4 inches a year, most in May (5.6") and least in June (3.2"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Batesville L&D 1, AR, 15 miles southwest of Cave City and 224 feet lower, has a last frost 15 days earlier (March 30), a first frost 16 days later (November 5), a season 31 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cave City 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, 9.6 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 48 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72521 is 10 miles from Evening Shade 1 NNE, AR, which stands at 514 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72521 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.