Frost Dates for 12572 — Rhinebeck, New York

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Millbrook 3 W, NY, 12 miles southeast of Rhinebeck, has a last frost 10 days earlier (May 4), a first frost 9 days later (October 7), a season 21 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rhinebeck usually arrives around December 10, and the last of the season around March 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rosendale 2 E, NY, 10.2 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 59 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12572 is 3 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 12572 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.