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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 74701 — Durant, Oklahoma

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Durant, OK (600 ft), 1 miles southeast.

Updated

In Durant, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 31 in half of years and has passed by April 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 5, as early as October 22 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 221 days (NOAA, Durant, OK).

Last spring frost
March 31

50% probability

First fall frost
November 5

50% probability

Growing season
221 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
41%

7 of 17 observed

Snow per year
2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Durant

Half of springs at Durant, OK see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by March 10, and one in ten still has one after April 19. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 13 20%, and after April 19 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 81% of the 114 Oklahoma stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 5 in half of years, as early as October 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 3, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 221 days in a typical year, longer than at 80% of the 114 Oklahoma stations; it reaches 247 days one year in ten and falls short of 195 one year in ten. On average 70 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 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 85%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 24Apr 1Apr 5Apr 8Apr 11Apr 15Apr 18Apr 22Apr 26
32°FMar 10Mar 15Mar 21Mar 26Mar 31Apr 4Apr 7Apr 13Apr 19
28°FFeb 23Mar 1Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 28Apr 3
24°FFeb 6Feb 15Feb 22Feb 26Mar 1Mar 4Mar 8Mar 12Mar 18
20°F99% of yrsJan 17Jan 29Feb 3Feb 10Feb 15Feb 21Feb 27Mar 3Mar 9
16°F85% of yrsDec 28Jan 9Jan 20Jan 26Feb 1Feb 5Feb 11Feb 19Feb 28
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 13Oct 19Oct 22Oct 26Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9
32°FOct 22Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 17Nov 23
28°FOct 31Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 17Nov 20Nov 25Nov 29Dec 4
24°FNov 9Nov 16Nov 22Nov 26Nov 30Dec 3Dec 6Dec 12Dec 20
20°F99% of yrsNov 23Nov 30Dec 4Dec 8Dec 13Dec 20Dec 28Jan 4Jan 14
16°F85% of yrsDec 3Dec 10Dec 15Dec 22Dec 31Jan 5Jan 11Jan 21Feb 4

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Durant, OK, 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 74701 →Compare Durant with another place →

Weather by month in Durant

August is the warmest month at Durant, OK, averaging 95°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°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 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,585 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 93% of the 114 Oklahoma stations. 39% of them (2,155) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,015. Precipitation totals 44.2 inches a year, most in May (5.4") and least in August (2.4"); May to September bring 45% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Durant, OK
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan54302.5100%2136
Feb59342.6100%1465
Mar67424.094%6205
Apr75493.948%1359
May81595.40%0628
Jun89685.10%0862
Jul94713.30%01011
Aug95702.40%01015
Sep88623.80%0747
Oct78514.432%1447
Nov66403.597%9166
Dec56323.3100%1845

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Durant, OK (600 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, Durant 6SSE Mesonet, OK, 7 miles southeast of Durant, has a last frost 12 days earlier (March 19), a first frost 7 days later (November 12), a season 16 days longer.

Frost dates for 74733 (Colbert) →

When it snows in Durant, Oklahoma

Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 17 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Durant, OK, 1.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 74701

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Durant, Oklahoma
WhenWhat to do
January 20 – February 3Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 3 – February 17Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 3 – March 17Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 31 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 13Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 22Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 5 onwardPlant 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 74701 is 1 mile from Durant, OK, which stands at 600 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 74701 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.

Frost dates across Oklahoma →

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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8a places in Oklahoma