U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00035563 · Arkansas

Frost Dates for Paragould, AR

NOAA weather station Paragould 1 S (USC00035563), Arkansas · elevation 270 ft (82 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 10only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2650% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 650% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season227 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Paragould, ARSpring: a frost after March 9 in 9 years out of 10, after March 26 in half of the years, after April 10 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 26 in 1 year out of 10, before November 6 in half of the years, before November 23 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 227 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 26First frost ~Nov 6Frost season at Paragould, ARSpring: a frost after March 9 in 9 years out of 10, after March 26 in half of the years, after April 10 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 26 in 1 year out of 10, before November 6 in half of the years, before November 23 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 227 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 26First frost ~Nov 6
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 10October 26
50% (typical)March 26November 6
90% (likely)March 9November 23
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
227 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 13
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 17

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 23 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 7 (1 day later). Frost-free season 229 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Paragould: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 10, 20% April 5, 30% April 2, 40% March 30, 50% March 26, 60% March 22, 70% March 18, 80% March 15, 90% March 9. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 2, 2022 March 14, 2023 March 21, 2024 March 20, 2025 March 22, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 10Mar 26Mar 92021: April 22022: March 142023: March 212024: March 202025: March 222026: March 18Fall at Paragould: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 26, 20% October 30, 30% November 1, 40% November 4, 50% November 6, 60% November 9, 70% November 12, 80% November 17, 90% November 23. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 6, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 31, 2024 November 29, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 26Nov 6Nov 232021: November 62022: October 182023: October 312024: November 292025: November 10
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 2November 6
2022March 14October 18
2023March 21October 31
2024March 20November 29
2025March 22November 10
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 10 is the cautious spring light-frost date for Paragould, giving a gardener only a 10 % chance that a 32 °F frost will occur later, so tender crops can be set out with minimal risk. The 50 % date of March 26 marks the point at which a light frost is equally likely to happen later, while March 9 carries a 90 % chance of a frost later and should be treated as a gamble. In the fall, October 26 is the cautious light-frost date, offering a 10 % chance that a frost has arrived earlier and allowing the final harvest of tender crops. The 50 % date of November 6 indicates an even chance that a frost has already occurred, and November 23 is a risky date with a 90 % chance of an earlier frost.

A hard frost at 28 °F can cause far greater damage to plant tissue than a light frost at 32 °F, making the median hard-frost dates of March 13 and November 17 important reference points.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 10" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 26" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Paragould, ARNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Jonesboro, AR — 16 mi; 2 — Corning, AR — 27 mi; 3 — Pocahontas, AR — 31 mi; 4 — Keiser, AR — 33 mi; 5 — Malden, MO — 48 mi.ARMOTNKY25 mi · 40 km1. Jonesboro, AR — 16 mi12. Corning, AR — 27 mi23. Pocahontas, AR — 31 mi34. Keiser, AR — 33 mi45. Malden, MO — 48 mi5
  1. Jonesboro, AR 16 mi (25 km)
  2. Corning, AR 27 mi (44 km)
  3. Pocahontas, AR 31 mi (49 km)
  4. Keiser, AR 33 mi (53 km)
  5. Malden, MO 48 mi (78 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 36.0336, -90.4978.