Frostline.info

Frost line depth in Ramona, OK 74061

Frost can reach about 20 inches deep in typical soil in Ramona, OK 74061 (18″ in clay to 26″ in sand). Local codes in climates like this commonly set footing depth at 18 to 30 inches.

Source: NOAA 100-year air freezing index (1951–80 station records) · Last reviewed

Moderate frost
Estimated frost depth
20″
typical silt/loam soil
Typical code footing depth
18–30″
rule of thumb for this climate
Design freezing index
427
°F-days, 100-year winter
Mean annual temp
59.4°F
nearest stations
20″ 0″12″24″36″48″ ground frozen
Est. frost (typical soil) Typical code footing depth Clay–sand range

Frost depth by soil type

Soil typeEst. frost depth
Sand / gravel (drains well)26″
Silt / loam (typical yard soil)20″
Clay (holds water)18″

Estimates use the modified Stefan equation with a turf / light-snow surface. Bare, plowed or paved ground freezes deeper; deep snow cover keeps frost shallower. How we calculate this.

Verify before you dig. These are climate-based estimates. The legally required frost depth is the figure your building department publishes in its IRC Table R301.2 (climatic and geographic design criteria). Call the Washington County building or permitting office in Oklahoma and call 811 before digging.

What this means for your project in Ramona

Deck footings & piers

Footings must bear below the frost line and at least 12″ below undisturbed ground. For planning in this area, budget for holes around 30″ deep until your permit office confirms the exact figure.

Fence posts

Set posts at least one-third of their above-ground height. Where frost heave is a problem, carry concrete footings below the frost line (about 20″ here in typical soil) and bell or taper the bottom.

Water & irrigation lines

Bury supply lines below the frost depth. Your water utility or plumbing code sets the minimum cover; add a margin below the estimate above for unusually cold winters.

Slabs & frost-protected foundations

Frost-protected shallow foundations (IRC R403.3) use the 100-year air freezing index — 427 °F-days here — to size perimeter insulation, letting footings sit shallower than the frost line.

Weather data behind this estimate

NOAA weather stationDistance100-yr AFI
Bartlesville 2 W, OK13.4 mi409
Nowata, OK16.9 mi431
Claremore 2 Ene, OK24.9 mi478

74061 ranks #3 of 6 ZIP codes in Washington County for frost depth (1 = deepest).

Nearby ZIP codes

All of Washington County →

Common questions

How deep is the frost line in Ramona, OK?

Based on NOAA's 100-year air freezing index of 427 °F-days for 74061, frost can reach about 20 inches in typical soil, 18 inches in clay and 26 inches in sand or gravel.

How deep do deck footings need to be in 74061?

Footings must sit below the local frost line and at least 12 inches below undisturbed soil. In climates like Ramona, codes commonly set the depth at 18 to 30 inches. The Washington County building department sets the exact requirement.

Why does soil type change the frost depth?

Wet clay holds a lot of water, and freezing that water releases heat that slows the frost. Dry sand and gravel hold little water and conduct cold faster, so frost goes deeper.

Where does this data come from?

Freezing-index values come from NOAA National Climatic Data Center station records (1951–80), the same data behind the air-freezing-index map in the International Residential Code. We average the three nearest stations, weighted by distance.