Frost Dates for 05676 — Waterbury, Vermont

Half of springs at Worcester 2 W, VT see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 23, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 54% of the 41 Vermont stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 5 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 153 days in a typical year, longer than at 71% of the 41 Vermont stations; it reaches 173 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 one year in ten. On average 165 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 17, and return around September 25. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Worcester 2 W, VT, averaging 77°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 26°F and 8°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 65% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,932 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 66% of the 41 Vermont stations. 31% of them (608) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 536. Precipitation totals 46.4 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Montpelier 2, VT, 11 miles southeast of Waterbury and 830 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day later (May 5), a first frost 4 days later (October 9), a season 4 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Waterbury usually arrives around October 23, and the last of the season around April 30. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Worcester 2 W, VT, 9.5 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 4 days after the last snow.

ZIP 05676 is 10 miles from Worcester 2 W, VT, which stands at 1,360 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 05676 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.