Frost Dates for 12561 — New Paltz, New York

Half of springs at Mohonk Lake, NY see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 5 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 27 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 24, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 188 days in a typical year, longer than at 84% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 121 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 10 days longer, to about May 1, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 7 and March 16.

July is the warmest month at Mohonk Lake, NY, averaging 83°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 19°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 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,972 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 83% of the 173 New York stations. 33% of them (994) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 718. Precipitation totals 52.6 inches a year, most in September (5.2") and least in February (3.2"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Poughkeepsie, NY, 9 miles east of New Paltz and 994 feet lower, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 6 days earlier (October 21), a season 5 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New Paltz usually arrives around November 23, and the last of the season around March 31. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mohonk Lake, NY, 3.3 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 12561 is 3 miles from Mohonk Lake, NY, which stands at 1,245 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12561 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.