Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Alma, Arkansas

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Mountainburg 2 NE, 11 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 9
First fall frostOct 28
201 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 91 year in 10 after Apr 28
First fall frostOct 281 year in 10 by Oct 14
Growing season201 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 8a10 to 15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Alma in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Alma during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 52°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in Alma

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 6, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Mountainburg 2 NE. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible Apr 7 · Apr 23 · May 8 Oct 5 · Oct 18 · Nov 2 179 days
32°F freeze Mar 24 · Apr 9 · Apr 28 Oct 14 · Oct 28 · Nov 12 201 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 8 · Mar 28 · Apr 14 Oct 23 · Nov 6 · Nov 25 222 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00035018. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Mountainburg 2 NE

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for Alma, AR come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Mountainburg 2 NE (station USC00035018, elevation 793 ft), 11 mi from Alma. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near Alma

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Van Buren, AR 8.1 mi Mar 25 Nov 6
Barling, AR 12 mi Mar 25 Nov 6
Fort Smith, AR 13 mi Mar 25 Nov 6
Greenwood, AR 19 mi Mar 25 Nov 6
Sallisaw, OK 34 mi Mar 30 Nov 7
Prairie Grove, AR 34 mi Apr 15 Oct 21
Poteau, OK 37 mi Apr 6 Nov 2
Farmington, AR 38 mi Apr 15 Oct 21
Fayetteville, AR 40 mi Apr 4 Oct 31
Clarksville, AR 41 mi Mar 24 Nov 10

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Alma?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Alma is around April 9. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 28, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 24.

When is the first frost in Alma?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 28. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 14 and a 90% chance by November 12.

Can it frost in Alma after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after April 23.

What growing zone is Alma?

Alma is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 10 to 15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 72921. See growing zones in Arkansas.

More: all Arkansas frost dates · Arkansas growing zones · frost vs. freeze