Frost Dates for 12491 — West Hurley, New York

Half of springs at Platte Clove, NY see their last 32°F night by May 9; only one in ten is past it by April 26, and one in ten still has one after May 25. Planting tender crops after May 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 20 20%, and after May 25 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 71% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 4 in half of years, as early as September 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 15, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 147 days in a typical year, shorter than at 77% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 166 days one year in ten and falls short of 128 one year in ten. On average 165 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 May 25, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Platte Clove, NY, averaging 80°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 12°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 76% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,067 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 173 New York stations. 30% of them (616) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 550. Precipitation totals 67.8 inches a year, most in December (7.2") and least in February (4.0"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Rhinebeck 4SE, NY, 15 miles southeast of West Hurley and 1,731 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days later (May 14), a first frost 6 days earlier (September 28), a season 13 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in West Hurley usually arrives around November 2, and the last of the season around April 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Platte Clove, NY, 9.8 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 21 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12491 is 10 miles from Platte Clove, NY, which stands at 2,032 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 12477 (Saugerties). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12491 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.