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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 11050 — Port Washington, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Mineola, NY (96 ft), 8 miles southeast.

Updated

In Port Washington, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 2 in half of years and has passed by April 16 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 12, as early as October 31 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 224 days (NOAA, Mineola, NY).

Last spring frost
April 2

50% probability

First fall frost
November 12

50% probability

Growing season
224 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
December 24

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 3

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

19 of 19 observed

Snow per year
18.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Port Washington

Half of springs at Mineola, NY see their last 32°F night by April 2; only one in ten is past it by March 18, and one in ten still has one after April 16. Planting tender crops after April 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 11 20%, and after April 16 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 63% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 12 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 224 days in a typical year, longer than at 97% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 245 days one year in ten and falls short of 204 one year in ten. On average 83 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 April 16, and return around October 31. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 93% of winters, usually between January 7 and February 12.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 3Apr 6Apr 10Apr 13Apr 16Apr 19Apr 22Apr 25Apr 30
32°FMar 18Mar 24Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 8Apr 11Apr 16
28°FMar 5Mar 11Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4
24°FFeb 21Feb 27Mar 3Mar 7Mar 10Mar 13Mar 16Mar 19Mar 24
20°FFeb 4Feb 13Feb 19Feb 24Feb 28Mar 3Mar 6Mar 10Mar 15
16°F93% of yrsJan 18Jan 28Feb 2Feb 6Feb 12Feb 17Feb 23Feb 28Mar 5
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 16Oct 21Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 13
32°FOct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 14Nov 18Nov 23Dec 1
28°FNov 9Nov 14Nov 17Nov 21Nov 25Nov 30Dec 2Dec 6Dec 13
24°FNov 17Nov 25Dec 1Dec 4Dec 8Dec 12Dec 17Dec 22Dec 31
20°FDec 3Dec 10Dec 16Dec 22Dec 26Dec 31Jan 3Jan 8Jan 17
16°F93% of yrsDec 19Dec 26Dec 31Jan 3Jan 7Jan 13Jan 18Jan 24Feb 3

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Mineola, 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 11050 →Compare Port Washington with another place →

Weather by month in Port Washington

July is the warmest month at Mineola, NY, averaging 87°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 60% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,682 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 97% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (1,168) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 840. Precipitation totals 45.4 inches a year, most in March (4.4") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 42% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Mineola, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan42273.7100%233
Feb44283.0100%213
Mar51354.499%1421
Apr62433.860%2131
May72523.10%0374
Jun81623.80%0636
Jul87684.00%0840
Aug85663.90%0784
Sep78604.10%0560
Oct67494.011%<1260
Nov56403.489%660
Dec47334.2100%1811

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Mineola, NY (96 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, Bronx, NY, 8 miles west of Port Washington, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 1), a first frost 4 days later (November 16), a season 6 days longer.

Frost dates for 10467 (Bronx) →

When it snows in Port Washington, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Port Washington usually arrives around December 24, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mineola, NY, 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 30 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 11050

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Port Washington, New York
WhenWhat to do
January 22 – February 5Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 5 – February 19Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 5 – March 19Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 2 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 20Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 29Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 12 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 11050 is 8 miles from Mineola, NY, which stands at 96 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 32 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 11550 (Hempstead). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 11050 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.

Frost dates across New York →

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 7b places in New York