Frost dates for Benton, KY
At Benton, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 9 and the median first fall frost is Oct 19, for a typical growing season of 192 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 28. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b.
- Apr 9Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 28Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 19First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 192 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 8 | Apr 24 | May 11 |
| 32°F | Mar 27 | Apr 9 | Apr 28 |
| 28°F | Mar 15 | Mar 31 | Apr 14 |
| 24°F | Mar 1 | Mar 18 | Apr 3 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 29 | Oct 10 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | Oct 6 | Oct 19 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | Oct 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 11 |
| 24°F | Oct 27 | Nov 9 | Nov 30 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 150 days | 170 days | 189 days |
| 32°F | 172 days | 192 days | 209 days |
| 28°F | 194 days | 212 days | 235 days |
| 24°F | 214 days | 238 days | 262 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42025 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 0 km |
| 42048 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 12 km |
| 42044 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 42082 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 16 km |
| 42066 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 30 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00150611, at 36.8581, -88.3364, elevation 111 m (365 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 4 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 103.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Kenlake Resort (21 km)
- Murray (27 km)
- Eddyville 5s (32 km)
- Paducah (45 km)
- W Paducah 2w (45 km)
- Princeton 1 SE (51 km)
- Bardwell 2 E (59 km)
- Hopkinsville (73 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.