Frost Dates for 12589 — Wallkill, New York

Half of springs at Walden 1 ESE, NY see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 12 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 83% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 54% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 183 days one year in ten and falls short of 145 one year in ten. On average 147 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 12 days longer, to about May 11, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 14.

July is the warmest month at Walden 1 ESE, NY, averaging 85°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°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 44% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,870 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 79% of the 173 New York stations. 33% of them (942) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 713. Precipitation totals 45.5 inches a year, most in October (4.7") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Montgomery Orange Airport, NY, 9 miles southwest of Wallkill, has a last frost 2 days later (May 1), the same first-frost date, a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Wallkill usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Walden 1 ESE, NY, 4.4 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 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12589 is 4 miles from Walden 1 ESE, NY, which stands at 380 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 12550 (Newburgh). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12589 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.