USDA Hardiness Zone 8a
Frost Dates for 72847 — London, Arkansas
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Dardanelle, AR (370 ft), 12 miles southeast.
Updated
In London, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 1 in half of years and has passed by April 17 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 2, as early as October 22 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 215 days (NOAA, Dardanelle, AR).
- Last spring frost
- April 1
- First fall frost
- November 2
- Growing season
- 215 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 45%
- Snow per year
- 2.5"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
9 of 20 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in London
Half of springs at Dardanelle, AR see their last 32°F night by April 1; only one in ten is past it by March 16, and one in ten still has one after April 17. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 10 20%, and after April 17 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 65% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 2 in half of years, as early as October 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 215 days in a typical year, shorter than at 64% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 236 days one year in ten and falls short of 196 one year in ten. On average 66 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 13, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 93% of winters, usually between December 29 and January 31.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 29 | Apr 2 | Apr 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 13 | Apr 16 | Apr 19 | Apr 23 | Apr 28 |
| 32°F | Mar 16 | Mar 22 | Mar 26 | Mar 29 | Apr 1 | Apr 3 | Apr 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 17 |
| 28°F | Mar 1 | Mar 7 | Mar 12 | Mar 15 | Mar 19 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Apr 1 | Apr 6 |
| 24°F | Feb 12 | Feb 21 | Feb 26 | Mar 1 | Mar 5 | Mar 9 | Mar 12 | Mar 16 | Mar 24 |
| 20°F | Jan 24 | Jan 31 | Feb 7 | Feb 14 | Feb 19 | Feb 25 | Mar 1 | Mar 5 | Mar 12 |
| 16°F93% of yrs | Dec 31 | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Jan 26 | Jan 31 | Feb 5 | Feb 11 | Feb 19 | Mar 1 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 11 | Oct 16 | Oct 20 | Oct 22 | Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 5 |
| 32°F | Oct 22 | Oct 26 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F | Oct 31 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 9 | Nov 12 | Nov 15 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 | Nov 30 |
| 24°F | Nov 7 | Nov 12 | Nov 17 | Nov 20 | Nov 25 | Nov 28 | Dec 2 | Dec 7 | Dec 13 |
| 20°F | Nov 16 | Nov 23 | Nov 28 | Dec 2 | Dec 8 | Dec 14 | Dec 20 | Dec 26 | Jan 2 |
| 16°F93% of yrs | Dec 1 | Dec 10 | Dec 18 | Dec 24 | Dec 29 | Jan 2 | Jan 7 | Jan 14 | Jan 23 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Dardanelle, AR, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.
Frost risk on any date in 72847 →Compare London with another place →
Weather by month in London
July is the warmest month at Dardanelle, AR, averaging 93°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 29°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 51% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,312 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 67% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 39% of them (2,055) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 995. Precipitation totals 49.6 inches a year, most in May (5.4") and least in February (3.3"); May to September bring 40% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 29 | 3.6 | 100% | 19 | 21 |
| Feb | 56 | 33 | 3.3 | 100% | 14 | 46 |
| Mar | 65 | 40 | 4.6 | 97% | 7 | 162 |
| Apr | 74 | 49 | 5.2 | 51% | 1 | 357 |
| May | 81 | 59 | 5.4 | 0% | 0 | 625 |
| Jun | 89 | 67 | 3.7 | 0% | 0 | 844 |
| Jul | 93 | 71 | 3.6 | 0% | 0 | 995 |
| Aug | 93 | 69 | 3.4 | 0% | 0 | 967 |
| Sep | 87 | 62 | 3.5 | 0% | 0 | 724 |
| Oct | 76 | 50 | 4.0 | 38% | 1 | 414 |
| Nov | 62 | 39 | 4.8 | 99% | 8 | 122 |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | 4.5 | 100% | 16 | 33 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Dardanelle, AR (370 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.
Compared with the next station
The nearest other station, Clarksville 6 NE, AR, 12 miles northwest of London and 480 feet higher, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 25), a first frost 8 days later (November 10), a season 17 days longer.
When it snows in London, Arkansas
Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Clarksville 2N, AR, 13.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 72847
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 21 – February 4 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 4 – February 18 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 4 – March 18 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 1 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 10 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 19 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 2 onward | Plant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter. |
The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.
Where these figures come from
ZIP 72847 is 12 miles from Dardanelle, AR, which stands at 370 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 72834 (Dardanelle). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72847 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.
Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.
Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.