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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 11951 — Mastic Beach, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY (82 ft), 4 miles north.

Updated

In Mastic Beach, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 18 in half of years and has passed by May 1 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 28, as early as October 13 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 193 days (NOAA, Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY).

Last spring frost
April 18

50% probability

First fall frost
October 28

50% probability

Growing season
193 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 12

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 19

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

27 of 27 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Mastic Beach

Half of springs at Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 4, and one in ten still has one after May 1. Planting tender crops after April 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 26 20%, and after May 1 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 83% of the 173 New York 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 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 193 days in a typical year, longer than at 87% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 211 days one year in ten and falls short of 172 one year in ten. On average 104 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 April 30, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 20 and March 2.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Shirley Brookhaven Airport, 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 11951 →Compare Mastic Beach with another place →

Weather by month in Mastic Beach

July is the warmest month at Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY, averaging 83°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 24°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 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,060 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 86% of the 173 New York stations. 29% of them (892) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 747. Precipitation totals 44.3 inches a year, most in March (4.6") and least in January (3.0"); May to September bring 39% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan39243.0100%251
Feb41253.1100%231
Mar47314.6100%1710
Apr58404.195%668
May68493.512%<1271
Jun77603.70%0542
Jul83663.20%0747
Aug81653.00%0708
Sep74573.90%0474
Oct64464.060%2188
Nov54373.7100%1042
Dec45294.5100%218

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY (82 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, Upton Coop - Nwsfo New York, NY, 7 miles north of Mastic Beach, has a last frost 3 days later (April 21), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 24), a season 9 days shorter.

Frost dates for 11949 (Manorville) →

When it snows in Mastic Beach, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Mastic Beach usually arrives around December 12, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Upton Coop - Nwsfo New York, NY, 7.1 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 30 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 11951

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Mastic Beach, New York
WhenWhat to do
February 7 – February 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 21 – March 7Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 21 – April 4Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 18 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 5Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 14Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 28 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 11951 is 4 miles from Shirley Brookhaven Airport, NY, which stands at 82 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 11763 (Medford). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 11951 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 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 7a places in New York