Frost Dates for 05860 — Orleans, Vermont

Half of springs at Newport, VT see their last 32°F night by May 14; only one in ten is past it by May 1, 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 23 20%, and after May 28 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 September 30 in half of years, as early as September 17 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 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 14, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 138 days in a typical year, shorter than at 68% of the 41 Vermont stations; it reaches 155 days one year in ten and falls short of 120 one year in ten. On average 171 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 27, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and April 4.

July is the warmest month at Newport, VT, averaging 78°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 23°F and 4°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 90% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,880 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 41 Vermont stations. 30% of them (560) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 532. Precipitation totals 43.6 inches a year, most in June (4.5") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Sutton, VT, 15 miles south of Orleans and 710 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (May 9), a first frost 1 day later (October 1), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Orleans usually arrives around November 7, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Newport, VT, 9.4 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 32 days after the last snow.

ZIP 05860 is 9 miles from Newport, VT, which stands at 790 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 05855 (Newport). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 05860 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.