Frost Dates for 11954 — Montauk, New York

Half of springs at Montauk Airport, NY see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 26, and one in ten still has one after April 20. Planting tender crops after April 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 16 20%, and after April 20 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 November 15 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past November 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 222 days in a typical year, longer than at 96% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 240 days one year in ten and falls short of 202 one year in ten. On average 74 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 16 days longer, to about April 23, and return around November 4. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 97% of winters, usually between January 6 and February 18.

July is the warmest month at Montauk Airport, NY, averaging 80°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 28°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 77% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,013 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 84% of the 173 New York stations. 26% of them (781) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 721. Precipitation totals 44.3 inches a year, most in December (4.4") and least in July (2.8"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Orient Pt Sp, NY, 17 miles west of Montauk, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 6), a first frost 2 days later (November 17), a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Montauk usually arrives around December 12, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bridgehampton, NY, 19.1 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 20 days after the last snow.

ZIP 11954 is 3 miles from Montauk Airport, NY, which stands at 7 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 11954 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.