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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 06786 — Terryville, Connecticut

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Burlington, CT (505 ft), 9 miles northeast.

Updated

In Terryville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 25 in half of years and has passed by May 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 18, as early as October 4 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 172 days (NOAA, Burlington, CT).

Last spring frost
April 25

50% probability

First fall frost
October 18

50% probability

Growing season
172 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night

First snow
December 9

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 21

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

18 of 18 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Terryville

Half of springs at Burlington, CT see their last 32°F night by April 25; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 50% of the 28 Connecticut stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 18 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 172 days in a typical year, shorter than at 61% of the 28 Connecticut stations; it reaches 192 days one year in ten and falls short of 151 one year in ten. On average 142 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 11 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and March 14.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 24Apr 28May 1May 4May 6May 9May 13May 17May 22
32°FApr 12Apr 17Apr 20Apr 23Apr 25Apr 28May 1May 5May 10
28°FApr 2Apr 5Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 16Apr 18Apr 22Apr 29
24°FMar 19Mar 24Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 5Apr 8Apr 14
20°FMar 8Mar 13Mar 16Mar 19Mar 22Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 3
16°FFeb 28Mar 4Mar 8Mar 11Mar 14Mar 16Mar 19Mar 23Mar 28
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 26Sep 30Oct 2Oct 4Oct 6Oct 9Oct 12Oct 16Oct 20
32°FOct 4Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 18Oct 20Oct 24Oct 27Nov 1
28°FOct 14Oct 19Oct 22Oct 26Oct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9Nov 14
24°FOct 26Nov 1Nov 4Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 24Dec 1
20°FNov 9Nov 14Nov 19Nov 23Nov 28Dec 1Dec 3Dec 6Dec 11
16°FNov 21Nov 27Dec 1Dec 3Dec 6Dec 9Dec 13Dec 18Dec 24

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Burlington, CT, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 06786 →Compare Terryville with another place →

Weather by month in Terryville

July is the warmest month at Burlington, CT, averaging 84°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 17°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 32% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,830 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 54% of the 28 Connecticut stations. 31% of them (888) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 710. Precipitation totals 53.5 inches a year, most in October (5.7") and least in February (3.4"); May to September bring 44% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Burlington, CT
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan36173.7100%291
Feb39183.4100%261
Mar47264.2100%2410
Apr60364.3100%1071
May70474.232%1279
Jun79574.80%0527
Jul84624.40%0710
Aug82605.10%0654
Sep75535.04%<1419
Oct63415.786%6132
Nov52323.9100%1824
Dec41244.8100%273

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Burlington, CT (505 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Bakersville, CT, 11 miles north of Terryville and 181 feet higher, has a last frost 13 days later (May 8), a first frost 13 days earlier (October 5), a season 21 days shorter.

Frost dates for 06790 (Torrington) →

When it snows in Terryville, Connecticut

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Terryville usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Shuttle Meadow Rsvr, CT, 10.1 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 35 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 06786

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Terryville, Connecticut
WhenWhat to do
February 14 – February 28Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 28 – March 14Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 28 – April 11Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 25 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 26Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 4Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 18 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 06786 is 9 miles from Burlington, CT, which stands at 505 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 13 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 06010 (Bristol). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 06786 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Connecticut →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6b places in Connecticut