Frost Dates for 12553 — New Windsor, New York

Half of springs at West Point, NY see their last 32°F night by April 10; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after April 24. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 20 20%, and after April 24 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 November 1 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 204 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 221 days one year in ten and falls short of 183 one year in ten. On average 110 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 13 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 18 and March 5.

July is the warmest month at West Point, NY, averaging 85°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 89% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,283 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 92% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (1,066) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 784. Precipitation totals 51.5 inches a year, most in October (5.3") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Walden 1 ESE, NY, 8 miles northwest of New Windsor, has a last frost 19 days later (April 29), a first frost 21 days earlier (October 11), a season 40 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New Windsor usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around March 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at West Point, NY, 7.2 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 29 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12553 is 7 miles from West Point, NY, which stands at 320 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 11 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 10950 (Monroe). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12553 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.