Frost Dates for 05032 — Bethel, Vermont

Half of springs at Rochester, VT see their last 32°F night by May 13; only one in ten is past it by April 30, and one in ten still has one after May 29. Planting tender crops after May 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 24 20%, and after May 29 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 78% of the 41 Vermont stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 2 in half of years, as early as September 19 one year in ten, and holds off past October 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 15, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 141 days in a typical year, shorter than at 61% of the 41 Vermont stations; it reaches 160 days one year in ten and falls short of 120 one year in ten. On average 177 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 16 days longer, to about May 29, and return around September 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and April 1.

July is the warmest month at Rochester, VT, averaging 79°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 29°F and 9°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 86% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,963 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 63% of the 41 Vermont stations. 29% of them (575) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 533. Precipitation totals 48.9 inches a year, most in June (5.2") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Woodstock, VT, 14 miles southeast of Bethel and 230 feet lower, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 1 day earlier (October 1).

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bethel usually arrives around November 14, and the last of the season around April 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bethel 4 N, VT, 5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 05032 is 9 miles from Rochester, VT, which stands at 830 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 05060 (Randolph). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 05032 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.