Frost Dates for 12205 — Albany, New York

Half of springs at Albany Airport, NY see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 11. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 11 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 October 15 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 28, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 169 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 191 days one year in ten and falls short of 150 one year in ten. On average 136 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 11 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 4. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 18.

July is the warmest month at Albany Airport, NY, averaging 84°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°F and 16°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 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,886 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 173 New York stations. 33% of them (953) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 718. Precipitation totals 40.9 inches a year, most in July (4.6") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Troy L&D, NY, 7 miles east of Albany and 297 feet lower, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 19), a first frost 11 days later (October 26), a season 21 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albany usually arrives around November 14, and the last of the season around April 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Albany Airport, NY, 2.1 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 25 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12205 is 2 miles from Albany Airport, NY, which stands at 312 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 24 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 12065 (Clifton Park). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12205 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.