USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Frost Dates for 08619 — Hamilton, New Jersey
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Trenton State College, NJ (100 ft), 6 miles northwest.
Updated
In Hamilton, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 17 in half of years and has passed by May 6 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 28, as early as October 11 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 192 days (NOAA, Trenton State College, NJ).
- Last spring frost
- April 17
- First fall frost
- October 28
- Growing season
- 192 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night
- First snow
- December 6
- Last snow
- March 22
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- 26.6"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
22 of 22 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Hamilton
Half of springs at Trenton State College, NJ see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 91% of the 56 New Jersey stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 28 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 192 days in a typical year, shorter than at 52% of the 56 New Jersey stations; it reaches 214 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 109 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 1, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 14 and February 28.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 16 | Apr 20 | Apr 25 | Apr 28 | May 1 | May 4 | May 8 | May 11 | May 17 |
| 32°F | Apr 2 | Apr 7 | Apr 10 | Apr 14 | Apr 17 | Apr 20 | Apr 25 | Apr 30 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 18 | Mar 23 | Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Apr 2 | Apr 4 | Apr 7 | Apr 12 | Apr 17 |
| 24°F | Mar 4 | Mar 10 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 21 | Mar 24 | Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Apr 5 |
| 20°F | Feb 20 | Feb 28 | Mar 3 | Mar 6 | Mar 10 | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 21 | Mar 27 |
| 16°F | Feb 6 | Feb 13 | Feb 18 | Feb 24 | Feb 28 | Mar 2 | Mar 6 | Mar 10 | Mar 16 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 1 | Oct 5 | Oct 9 | Oct 12 | Oct 15 | Oct 18 | Oct 21 | Oct 25 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | Oct 11 | Oct 16 | Oct 21 | Oct 24 | Oct 28 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F | Oct 25 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 17 | Nov 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 3 | Nov 8 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 20 | Nov 23 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 |
| 20°F | Nov 14 | Nov 20 | Nov 24 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 3 | Dec 6 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 |
| 16°F | Nov 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 9 | Dec 14 | Dec 18 | Dec 23 | Dec 29 | Jan 9 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Trenton State College, NJ, 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 08619 →Compare Hamilton with another place →
Weather by month in Hamilton
July is the warmest month at Trenton State College, NJ, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 23°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 18% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 3,400 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 56 New Jersey stations. 33% of them (1,119) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 798. Precipitation totals 47.3 inches a year, most in July (4.8") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 45% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40 | 23 | 3.6 | 100% | 26 | 4 |
| Feb | 43 | 24 | 2.8 | 100% | 22 | 2 |
| Mar | 51 | 31 | 4.4 | 100% | 17 | 22 |
| Apr | 63 | 41 | 3.6 | 90% | 5 | 128 |
| May | 73 | 50 | 3.5 | 18% | <1 | 351 |
| Jun | 82 | 59 | 4.7 | 0% | 0 | 613 |
| Jul | 87 | 65 | 4.8 | 0% | 0 | 798 |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 4.3 | 0% | 0 | 731 |
| Sep | 78 | 56 | 4.1 | 1% | 0 | 506 |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 4.0 | 63% | 2 | 193 |
| Nov | 55 | 35 | 3.2 | 100% | 13 | 47 |
| Dec | 45 | 26 | 4.3 | 100% | 23 | 6 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Trenton State College, NJ (100 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, Trenton Mercer Co Airport, NJ, 7 miles west of Hamilton, has a last frost 7 days earlier (April 10), a first frost 4 days later (November 1), a season 10 days longer.
When it snows in Hamilton, New Jersey
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hamilton usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Trenton Mercer Co Airport, NJ, 6.8 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 26 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 08619
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 6 – February 20 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 20 – March 6 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 20 – April 3 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 17 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 5 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 14 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| October 28 onward | Plant 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 08619 is 6 miles from Trenton State College, NJ, which stands at 100 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 19067 (Yardley). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 08619 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.
Frost dates across New Jersey →
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.