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Will it freeze in Mena in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Mena during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 45°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
4 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 45°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 35°F Frost possible · Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 Mena
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 10, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Mena. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last 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 | Mar 31 · Apr 17 · May 1 | Oct 10 · Oct 23 · Nov 5 | 187 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 15 · Apr 5 · Apr 24 | Oct 18 · Nov 1 · Nov 16 | 208 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 28 · Mar 22 · Apr 10 | Oct 28 · Nov 10 · Nov 29 | 232 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Mena
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 Mena, AR come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Mena (station USC00034756, elevation 1,152 ft), 3.2 mi from Mena. 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 Mena
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| De Queen, AR | 38 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 5 |
| Poteau, OK | 40 mi | Apr 6 | Nov 2 |
| Greenwood, AR | 43 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 6 |
| Barling, AR | 52 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 6 |
| Fort Smith, AR | 53 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 6 |
| Idabel, OK | 57 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 3 |
| Van Buren, AR | 60 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 6 |
| Alma, AR | 63 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 28 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 68 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
| Sallisaw, OK | 69 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 7 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Mena?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Mena is around April 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 24, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 15.
When is the first frost in Mena?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 1. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 18 and a 90% chance by November 16.
Can it frost in Mena 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 17.
What growing zone is Mena?
Mena 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 71953. See growing zones in Arkansas.
More: all Arkansas frost dates · Arkansas growing zones · frost vs. freeze