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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 12514 — Clinton Corners, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Rhinebeck 4SE, NY (301 ft), 5 miles west.

Updated

In Clinton Corners, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 14 in half of years and has passed by June 1 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around September 28, as early as September 14 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 134 days (NOAA, Rhinebeck 4SE, NY).

Last spring frost
May 14

50% probability

First fall frost
September 28

50% probability

Growing season
134 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
December 19

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 1

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
75%

12 of 16 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Clinton Corners

Half of springs at Rhinebeck 4SE, NY see their last 32°F night by May 14; only one in ten is past it by April 30, and one in ten still has one after June 1. Planting tender crops after May 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 27 20%, and after June 1 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 96% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 28 in half of years, as early as September 14 one year in ten, and holds off past October 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 19, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 134 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 156 days one year in ten and falls short of 113 one year in ten. On average 185 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 29, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and April 1.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMay 11May 17May 22May 26May 29May 31Jun 4Jun 9Jun 17
32°FApr 30May 3May 7May 11May 14May 19May 22May 27Jun 1
28°FApr 18Apr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 2May 6May 9May 13May 19
24°FApr 6Apr 12Apr 16Apr 20Apr 23Apr 26Apr 30May 3May 9
20°FMar 28Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 15Apr 18Apr 22Apr 29
16°FMar 15Mar 20Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 3Apr 6Apr 10Apr 18
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 4Sep 9Sep 13Sep 16Sep 19Sep 22Sep 25Sep 27Oct 1
32°FSep 14Sep 19Sep 23Sep 25Sep 28Oct 1Oct 3Oct 5Oct 11
28°FSep 26Sep 30Oct 2Oct 4Oct 7Oct 10Oct 14Oct 19Oct 25
24°FOct 4Oct 9Oct 13Oct 17Oct 21Oct 25Oct 29Nov 1Nov 6
20°FOct 13Oct 20Oct 25Oct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 12Nov 17
16°FOct 26Nov 1Nov 5Nov 9Nov 13Nov 17Nov 21Nov 25Dec 1

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Rhinebeck 4SE, 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 12514 →Compare Clinton Corners with another place →

Weather by month in Clinton Corners

July is the warmest month at Rhinebeck 4SE, NY, averaging 86°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°F and 11°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 85% of years and June still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,548 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 54% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (818) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 646. Precipitation totals 50.6 inches a year, most in October (5.3") and least in February (3.1"); May to September bring 43% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Rhinebeck 4SE, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan37114.1100%300
Feb40123.1100%280
Mar49204.1100%288
Apr62313.9100%1962
May73433.885%7254
Jun81524.111%1494
Jul86564.60%<1646
Aug84554.90%0611
Sep77474.359%4359
Oct65355.3100%1699
Nov53263.6100%2314
Dec42174.8100%301

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Rhinebeck 4SE, NY (301 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, Millbrook 3 W, NY, 6 miles south of Clinton Corners, has a last frost 10 days earlier (May 4), a first frost 9 days later (October 7), a season 21 days longer.

Frost dates for 12569 (Pleasant Valley) →

When it snows in Clinton Corners, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Clinton Corners usually arrives around December 19, and the last of the season around March 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rhinebeck 4SE, NY, 5.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 75% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 74 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 12514

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Clinton Corners, New York
WhenWhat to do
March 5 – March 19Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 19 – April 2Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 16 – April 30Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 14 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 6Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 14Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
September 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 12514 is 5 miles from Rhinebeck 4SE, NY, which stands at 301 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 12401 (Kingston). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12514 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.

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 6a places in New York