Frost Dates for 05255 — Manchester Center, Vermont

Half of springs at Sunderland 2, 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 28. Planting tender crops after May 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 24 20%, and after May 28 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 24% of the 41 Vermont stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 29 in half of years, as early as September 15 one year in ten, and holds off past October 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 16, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 137 days in a typical year, shorter than at 73% of the 41 Vermont stations; it reaches 157 days one year in ten and falls short of 117 one year in ten. On average 164 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 15 days longer, to about May 28, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 27.

July is the warmest month at Sunderland 2, VT, averaging 81°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 11°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 87% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,108 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 41 Vermont stations. 32% of them (666) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 559. Precipitation totals 46.9 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Bennington Morse St Airport, VT, 22 miles southwest of Manchester Center, has a last frost 2 days earlier (May 11), a first frost 3 days later (October 2), a season 6 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Manchester Center usually arrives around November 9, and the last of the season around April 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Sunderland 2, VT, 6.7 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 27 days after the last snow.

ZIP 05255 is 7 miles from Sunderland 2, VT, which stands at 900 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 05255 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.