Frost Dates for 72703 — Fayetteville, Arkansas

Half of springs at Fayetteville Exp Stn, AR see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 18, and one in ten still has one after April 22. Planting tender crops after April 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 16 20%, and after April 22 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 31 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 9, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 209 days in a typical year, shorter than at 80% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 233 days one year in ten and falls short of 188 one year in ten. On average 83 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 16, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 20 and February 19.

July is the warmest month at Fayetteville Exp Stn, AR, averaging 89°F by day and 69°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 61% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,504 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 37% of them (1,680) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 900. Precipitation totals 46.3 inches a year, most in May (6.0") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Fayetteville Drake Field, AR, 7 miles southwest of Fayetteville, has a last frost 11 days later (April 15), a first frost 10 days earlier (October 21), a season 21 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Fayetteville usually arrives around December 22, and the last of the season around February 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Fayetteville Drake Field, AR, 7.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72703 is 3 miles from Fayetteville Exp Stn, AR, which stands at 1,270 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 72764 (Springdale). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72703 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.