Frost Dates for 74501 — Mcalester, Oklahoma

Half of springs at Mcalester Regional Airport, OK see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by March 11, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 11 20%, and after April 18 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 60% of the 114 Oklahoma stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 3 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 216 days in a typical year, longer than at 65% of the 114 Oklahoma stations; it reaches 241 days one year in ten and falls short of 193 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 11 days longer, to about April 11, and return around October 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 93% of winters, usually between December 25 and February 3.

July is the warmest month at Mcalester Regional Airport, OK, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°F and 30°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 47% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,478 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 89% of the 114 Oklahoma stations. 39% of them (2,119) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,011. Precipitation totals 42.7 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in January (2.2"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Wilburton 9 ENE, OK, 33 miles east of Mcalester, has a last frost 2 days later (April 2), a first frost 2 days later (November 5), a season 2 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Clayton 14 WNW, OK, 22 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 74501 is 5 miles from Mcalester Regional Airport, OK, which stands at 770 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 74501 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.