Frost Dates for 05156 — Springfield, Vermont

Half of springs at N Springfield Lake, VT see their last 32°F night by May 9; only one in ten is past it by April 26, and one in ten still has one after May 22. Planting tender crops after May 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 18 20%, and after May 22 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% 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 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 10, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 146 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 41 Vermont stations; it reaches 166 days one year in ten and falls short of 126 one year in ten. On average 173 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 12 days longer, to about May 21, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 22 and March 28.

July is the warmest month at N Springfield Lake, VT, averaging 83°F by day and 57°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 77% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,243 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 61% of the 41 Vermont stations. 31% of them (691) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 615. Precipitation totals 43.9 inches a year, most in October (5.1") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Springfield Hartness Airport, VT, 4 miles northwest of Springfield, has a last frost 4 days later (May 13), a first frost 1 day later (October 3), a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Springfield usually arrives around November 8, and the last of the season around April 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cavendish, VT, 8.4 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 05156 is 3 miles from N Springfield Lake, VT, which stands at 560 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 05156 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.