Station by station
When does the ground freeze in Missouri?
Each bar runs from the typical first freeze to the typical last thaw at that depth, the median over the station's complete winters on record, with the typical number of frozen days after it. Frost reaches the deeper probes later in the winter. A depth that froze in fewer than half of its winters has no typical dates. Stations: 10 typically freeze, 3 froze in some winters, 2 never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.
Carver Farm
SCANTypically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 14 to Jan 26, a median of 12 frozen days.12 days
4 inFroze in 2 of 5 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 1 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Chillicothe 22 ENE
USCRNTypically freezes to 4 inches, not to 8.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Dec 29 to Feb 17, a median of 28 frozen days.28 days
4 in4 inches: typically frozen from Dec 31 to Feb 12, a median of 22 frozen days.22 days
8 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
CMRB LTAR-MO
SCANTypically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 20 to Feb 6, a median of 15 frozen days.15 days
4 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Dexter
SCANFroze at 2 inches in 1 of 4 complete winters on record.
2 inEach frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.
2 in: froze in 1 of 4 · 4 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 8 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 40 in: froze in 0 of 5
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Elsberry PMC
SCANTypically freezes to 4 inches, not to 8.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 20 to Feb 10, a median of 17 frozen days.17 days
4 in4 inches: typically frozen from Jan 21 to Jan 29, a median of 12 frozen days.12 days
8 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Joplin 24 N
USCRNIn 5 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.
Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 32.2°F at 2 inches, 32.5°F at 4 inches, 33.6°F at 8 inches, 38.1°F at 20 inches and 42.1°F at 40 inches.
No current reading
Journagan Ranch
SCANTypically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 2 to Feb 6, a median of 28 frozen days.28 days
4 inFroze in 1 of 4 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
LTSP
SCANTypically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 13 to Jan 26, a median of 10 frozen days.10 days
4 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 2 of 4 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Mt Vernon
SCANFroze at 2 inches in 2 of 4 complete winters on record.
2 inEach frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.
2 in: froze in 2 of 4 · 4 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 8 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 4
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Powell Gardens
SCANTypically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 21 to Jan 29, a median of 6 frozen days.6 days
4 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Salem 10 W
USCRNFroze at 2 inches in 1 of 5 complete winters on record.
2 inEach frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.
2 in: froze in 1 of 5 · 4 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 8 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 40 in: froze in 0 of 5
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Schell-Osage
SCANTypically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 19 to Jan 24, a median of 11 frozen days.11 days
4 inFroze in 2 of 4 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 1 of 4 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Shaw Nature Reserve
SCANIn 4 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.
Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 32.2°F at 2 inches, 32.2°F at 4 inches, 32.7°F at 8 inches, 36.9°F at 20 inches and 41.4°F at 40 inches.
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Sinkin Forest
SCANTypically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 19 to Jan 26, a median of 8 frozen days.8 days
4 inFroze in 1 of 5 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
Spickard
SCANTypically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.
2 in2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 19 to Feb 4, a median of 11 frozen days.11 days
4 inFroze in 2 of 5 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen
A winter runs July to June. Our station readings come from one grass-covered site per station at five fixed depths, and often show shallower frost than regional figures.
