Frost Dates for 05201 — Bennington, Vermont

Half of springs at Bennington Morse St Airport, VT see their last 32°F night by May 11; only one in ten is past it by April 26, and one in ten still has one after May 28. Planting tender crops after May 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 22 20%, and after May 28 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the widest 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 12 days later, around October 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 15, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 143 days in a typical year, shorter than at 44% of the 41 Vermont stations; it reaches 163 days one year in ten and falls short of 122 one year in ten. On average 152 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 13 days longer, to about May 24, and return around September 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 24 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Bennington Morse St Airport, VT, averaging 81°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 13°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 78% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,257 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 63% of the 41 Vermont stations. 32% of them (717) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 586. Precipitation totals 38.8 inches a year, most in July (4.7") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Pownal 1 NE, VT, 7 miles south of Bennington and 284 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days earlier (May 7), a first frost 6 days later (October 8), a season 11 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bennington usually arrives around November 9, and the last of the season around April 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pownal 1 NE, VT, 6.6 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 36 days after the last snow.

ZIP 05201 is 4 miles from Bennington Morse St Airport, VT, which stands at 826 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 05201 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.