Frost Dates for 72952 — Rudy, Arkansas

Half of springs at Mountainburg 2 NE, AR see their last 32°F night by April 9; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 28. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 21 20%, and after April 28 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 105 Arkansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 28 in half of years, as early as October 14 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 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 201 days in a typical year, shorter than at 90% of the 105 Arkansas stations; it reaches 225 days one year in ten and falls short of 177 one year in ten. On average 87 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 14 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 19 and February 16.

July is the warmest month at Mountainburg 2 NE, AR, averaging 92°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 26°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 74% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,592 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 76% of the 105 Arkansas stations. 37% of them (1,711) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 914. Precipitation totals 53.6 inches a year, most in May (6.3") and least in February (3.1"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Fort Smith Regional Airport, AR, 16 miles south of Rudy and 344 feet lower, has a last frost 15 days earlier (March 25), a first frost 9 days later (November 6), a season 23 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rudy usually arrives around December 24, and the last of the season around January 29. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mountainburg 2 NE, AR, 10.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 75% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 70 days after the last snow.

ZIP 72952 is 11 miles from Mountainburg 2 NE, AR, which stands at 793 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 72921 (Alma). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 72952 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.