Frost Dates for 05763 — Pittsford, Vermont

Half of springs at Rutland, VT see their last 32°F night by May 15; only one in ten is past it by May 1, and one in ten still has one after May 31. Planting tender crops after May 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 25 20%, and after May 31 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 September 27 in half of years, as early as September 13 one year in ten, and holds off past October 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around October 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 16, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 132 days in a typical year, shorter than at 85% of the 41 Vermont stations; it reaches 151 days one year in ten and falls short of 112 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 14 days longer, to about May 29, and return around September 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and April 1.

July is the warmest month at Rutland, VT, averaging 80°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 29°F and 8°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,056 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 59% of the 41 Vermont stations. 32% of them (649) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 569. Precipitation totals 40.4 inches a year, most in July (4.6") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Rochester, VT, 14 miles northeast of Pittsford and 210 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days earlier (May 13), a first frost 5 days later (October 2), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Pittsford usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Chittenden, VT, 2.2 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 05763 is 7 miles from Rutland, VT, which stands at 620 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 05701 (Rutland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 05763 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.