USDA Hardiness Zone 6b
Frost Dates for 10990 — Warwick, New York
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Sussex Airport, NJ (421 ft), 14 miles west.
Updated
In Warwick, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 1 in half of years and has passed by May 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 12, as early as September 30 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 164 days (NOAA, Sussex Airport, NJ).
- Last spring frost
- May 1
- First fall frost
- October 12
- Growing season
- 164 days
- Hardiness zone
- 6b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night
- First snow
- December 11
- Last snow
- March 21
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
19 of 19 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Warwick
Half of springs at Sussex Airport, NJ see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 19, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 90% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 12 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 54% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 184 days one year in ten and falls short of 141 one year in ten. On average 135 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 12 days longer, to about May 13, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 13.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 27 | May 2 | May 6 | May 9 | May 13 | May 16 | May 20 | May 24 | May 28 |
| 32°F | Apr 19 | Apr 23 | Apr 26 | Apr 29 | May 1 | May 4 | May 8 | May 11 | May 18 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Apr 9 | Apr 13 | Apr 16 | Apr 19 | Apr 21 | Apr 25 | Apr 29 | May 4 |
| 24°F | Mar 21 | Mar 27 | Mar 30 | Apr 2 | Apr 4 | Apr 7 | Apr 11 | Apr 15 | Apr 20 |
| 20°F | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 21 | Mar 24 | Mar 27 | Mar 30 | Apr 2 | Apr 6 |
| 16°F | Feb 26 | Mar 3 | Mar 6 | Mar 10 | Mar 13 | Mar 16 | Mar 19 | Mar 23 | Mar 29 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 20 | Sep 24 | Sep 27 | Sep 30 | Oct 2 | Oct 4 | Oct 7 | Oct 10 | Oct 15 |
| 32°F | Sep 30 | Oct 3 | Oct 6 | Oct 9 | Oct 12 | Oct 15 | Oct 19 | Oct 23 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Oct 9 | Oct 14 | Oct 18 | Oct 21 | Oct 25 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 7 |
| 24°F | Oct 21 | Oct 26 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 11 | Nov 15 | Nov 20 |
| 20°F | Nov 3 | Nov 7 | Nov 12 | Nov 15 | Nov 18 | Nov 22 | Nov 26 | Nov 30 | Dec 4 |
| 16°F | Nov 13 | Nov 19 | Nov 24 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 8 | Dec 13 | Dec 21 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Sussex Airport, 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 10990 →Compare Warwick with another place →
Frost risk through the year in Warwick
In Warwick, the spring curve drops under 10% on May 18 and the fall curve passes 10% on September 30, 135 days later; that gap is shorter than at 49% of the 173 New York stations with frost dates. The spring risk falls from 90% to 10% over 29 days (April 19 to May 18) and the fall risk climbs from 10% to 90% over 28 days (September 30 to October 28): both ends of the season vary about as much. At Middletown 2 NW, NY, 15 miles north, the same gap runs from May 5 to October 5, 18 days longer.
| Planted on | Another 32°F night | 28°F night |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 17 | over 90% | 57% |
| Apr 24 | 77% | 33% |
| May 150% date | 50% | 16% |
| May 8 | 30% | under 10% |
| May 15 | 14% | under 10% |
| May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
Weather by month in Warwick
July is the warmest month at Sussex Airport, NJ, averaging 84°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 18°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 52% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 2,806 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 173 New York stations. 33% of them (931) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 690. Precipitation totals 40.9 inches a year, most in October (4.2") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 47% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36 | 18 | 2.6 | 100% | 28 | 0 |
| Feb | 39 | 20 | 2.2 | 100% | 25 | 1 |
| Mar | 48 | 27 | 3.2 | 100% | 22 | 14 |
| Apr | 61 | 37 | 3.4 | 100% | 10 | 89 |
| May | 71 | 47 | 3.7 | 52% | 1 | 297 |
| Jun | 80 | 56 | 3.7 | 0% | 0 | 530 |
| Jul | 84 | 61 | 4.1 | 0% | 0 | 690 |
| Aug | 82 | 60 | 3.9 | 0% | 0 | 645 |
| Sep | 75 | 51 | 3.8 | 11% | <1 | 385 |
| Oct | 64 | 40 | 4.2 | 93% | 6 | 133 |
| Nov | 51 | 31 | 3.0 | 100% | 17 | 20 |
| Dec | 41 | 24 | 3.1 | 100% | 26 | 3 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Sussex Airport, NJ (421 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, Middletown 2 NW, NY, 15 miles north of Warwick and 279 feet higher, has a last frost 10 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 10 days later (October 22), a season 18 days longer.
When it snows in Warwick, New York
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Warwick usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around March 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Greenwood Lake, NJ, 8.6 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 41 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 10990
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 20 – March 6 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| March 6 – March 20 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| April 3 – April 17 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| May 1 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by July 20 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by September 28 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| October 12 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 10990 is 14 miles from Sussex Airport, NJ, which stands at 421 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 10990 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.
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.