Frost Dates for 72638 — Green Forest, Arkansas

Half of springs at Harrison Boone Co Airport, AR see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 17, and one in ten still has one after April 21. Planting tender crops after April 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 14 20%, and after April 21 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 60% 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 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 9, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 210 days in a typical year, shorter than at 77% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 231 days one year in ten and falls short of 187 one year in ten. On average 76 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 15, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 18 and February 19.

July is the warmest month at Harrison Boone Co Airport, AR, averaging 89°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°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 58% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,463 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 87% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 38% of them (1,687) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 883. Precipitation totals 44.6 inches a year, most in April (5.0") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Branson Airport, MO, 18 miles northeast of Green Forest, has a last frost 5 days later (April 8), a first frost 3 days later (November 2), a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Green Forest usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Harrison, AR, 18.8 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 30 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72638 is 14 miles from Harrison Boone Co Airport, AR, which stands at 1,374 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72638 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.