Frost Dates for 12501 — Amenia, New York

Half of springs at Millbrook 3 W, NY see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 21. Planting tender crops after May 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 21 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 90% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 7 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 9, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 155 days in a typical year, shorter than at 65% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 176 days one year in ten and falls short of 135 one year in ten. On average 141 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 15 days longer, to about May 19, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 28 and March 18.

July is the warmest month at Millbrook 3 W, NY, averaging 83°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 35°F and 16°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 62% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,534 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (812) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 643. Precipitation totals 46.0 inches a year, most in August (4.6") and least in February (3.1"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Falls Village, CT, 12 miles northeast of Amenia, has a last frost 7 days later (May 11), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 4), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Amenia usually arrives around November 26, and the last of the season around March 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Copake, NY, 18 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 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12501 is 11 miles from Millbrook 3 W, NY, which stands at 413 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 12569 (Pleasant Valley). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12501 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.