USDA Hardiness Zone 7b
Frost Dates for 10023 — New York, New York
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY (130 ft), under a mile east.
Updated
In New York, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 30 in half of years and has passed by April 9 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 20, as early as November 6 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 236 days (NOAA, New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY).
- Last spring frost
- March 30
- First fall frost
- November 20
- Growing season
- 236 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night
- First snow
- December 10
- Last snow
- March 18
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- 29.8"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
30 of 30 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in New York
Half of springs at New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY see their last 32°F night by March 30; only one in ten is past it by March 14, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after April 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 5 20%, and after April 9 10%. The 10 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the narrowest of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so the end of frost is fairly predictable.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 20 in half of years, as early as November 6 one year in ten, and holds off past December 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 7 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 236 days in a typical year, longer than at 99% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 257 days one year in ten and falls short of 217 one year in ten. On average 67 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 8 days longer, to about April 7, and return around November 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between January 5 and February 14.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 26 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 5 | Apr 7 | Apr 9 | Apr 13 | Apr 16 | Apr 20 |
| 32°F | Mar 14 | Mar 19 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 30 | Apr 1 | Apr 3 | Apr 5 | Apr 9 |
| 28°F | Mar 5 | Mar 10 | Mar 13 | Mar 16 | Mar 19 | Mar 22 | Mar 26 | Mar 29 | Apr 2 |
| 24°F | Feb 22 | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 7 | Mar 9 | Mar 12 | Mar 15 | Mar 19 | Mar 25 |
| 20°F | Feb 7 | Feb 14 | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Mar 1 | Mar 4 | Mar 7 | Mar 11 | Mar 16 |
| 16°F96% of yrs | Jan 19 | Jan 30 | Feb 3 | Feb 8 | Feb 14 | Feb 20 | Feb 25 | Mar 1 | Mar 7 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 27 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 14 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 |
| 32°F | Nov 6 | Nov 10 | Nov 14 | Nov 17 | Nov 20 | Nov 23 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F | Nov 15 | Nov 21 | Nov 24 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 7 | Dec 11 | Dec 16 |
| 24°F | Nov 25 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 9 | Dec 12 | Dec 16 | Dec 20 | Dec 25 | Jan 1 |
| 20°F | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 18 | Dec 22 | Dec 26 | Dec 30 | Jan 2 | Jan 7 | Jan 15 |
| 16°F96% of yrs | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Dec 29 | Jan 2 | Jan 5 | Jan 8 | Jan 14 | Jan 20 | Jan 29 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY, 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 10023 →Compare New York with another place →
Weather by month in New York
July is the warmest month at New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY, averaging 85°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 28°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 40% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 3,867 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 98% of the 173 New York stations. 33% of them (1,278) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 852. Precipitation totals 49.6 inches a year, most in July (4.6") and least in February (3.2"); May to September bring 44% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40 | 28 | 3.6 | 100% | 21 | 4 |
| Feb | 42 | 30 | 3.2 | 100% | 18 | 6 |
| Mar | 50 | 36 | 4.3 | 99% | 11 | 34 |
| Apr | 62 | 46 | 4.1 | 40% | 1 | 162 |
| May | 71 | 55 | 4.0 | 0% | 0 | 410 |
| Jun | 80 | 64 | 4.5 | 0% | 0 | 661 |
| Jul | 85 | 70 | 4.6 | 0% | 0 | 852 |
| Aug | 83 | 69 | 4.6 | 0% | 0 | 809 |
| Sep | 76 | 62 | 4.3 | 0% | 0 | 578 |
| Oct | 65 | 51 | 4.4 | 1% | 0 | 263 |
| Nov | 54 | 42 | 3.6 | 78% | 4 | 72 |
| Dec | 44 | 34 | 4.4 | 99% | 14 | 15 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY (130 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, New York Laguardia Airport, NY, 5 miles east of New York, has a last frost 4 days earlier (March 26), a first frost 5 days later (November 25), a season 8 days longer.
When it snows in New York, New York
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New York usually arrives around December 10, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY, 0.7 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 12 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 10023
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 19 – February 2 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 2 – February 16 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 2 – March 16 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 30 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 28 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 6 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 20 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 10023 is under a mile from New York Cntrl Pk Twr, NY, which stands at 130 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 59 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 10025 (New York). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 10023 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.
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.