Frost Dates for 12603 — Poughkeepsie, New York

Half of springs at Poughkeepsie Dutchess Co Airport, NY see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 14 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 14 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 168 days in a typical year, longer than at 62% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 190 days one year in ten and falls short of 147 one year in ten. On average 135 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 10, and return around October 4. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 13.

July is the warmest month at Poughkeepsie Dutchess Co Airport, NY, averaging 85°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 18°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 45% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,954 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 83% of the 173 New York stations. 33% of them (965) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 730. Precipitation totals 41.9 inches a year, most in August (4.3") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Poughkeepsie, NY, 4 miles northwest of Poughkeepsie, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 7 days later (October 21), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Poughkeepsie usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Poughkeepsie, 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 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12603 is 3 miles from Poughkeepsie Dutchess Co Airport, NY, which stands at 166 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12603 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.