Frost Dates for 05843 — Hardwick, Vermont

Half of springs at Morrisville Stowe State Airport, VT see their last 32°F night by May 20; only one in ten is past it by May 6, and one in ten still has one after June 4. Planting tender crops after May 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 30 20%, and after June 4 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 28 in half of years, as early as September 14 one year in ten, and holds off past October 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 23, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 129 days in a typical year, shorter than at 90% of the 41 Vermont stations; it reaches 149 days one year in ten and falls short of 110 one year in ten. On average 172 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 June 2, and return around September 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and April 4.

July is the warmest month at Morrisville Stowe State Airport, VT, averaging 79°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 26°F and 5°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,849 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 73% of the 41 Vermont stations. 30% of them (548) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 525. Precipitation totals 35.6 inches a year, most in July (4.2") and least in February (1.5"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Morrisville 4 SSW, VT, 13 miles west of Hardwick, has a last frost 4 days later (May 24), a first frost 1 day earlier (September 27), a season 6 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hardwick usually arrives around October 31, and the last of the season around April 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Morrisville 4 SSW, VT, 13.1 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 05843 is 13 miles from Morrisville Stowe State Airport, VT, which stands at 732 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 05661 (Morrisville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 05843 in zone 4b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -25 to -20°F (-31.7 to -28.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.