Frost Dates for 12871 — Schuylerville, New York

Half of springs at Saratoga Springs 4 SW, NY see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 17 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 29% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 7 in half of years, as early as September 27 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 158 days in a typical year, shorter than at 56% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 178 days one year in ten and falls short of 138 one year in ten. On average 144 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 May 15, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 26 and March 22.

July is the warmest month at Saratoga Springs 4 SW, NY, averaging 84°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 14°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 55% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,829 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 76% of the 173 New York stations. 33% of them (948) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 693. Precipitation totals 46.4 inches a year, most in July (5.0") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Buskirk, NY, 13 miles southeast of Schuylerville and 173 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days later (May 6), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 6), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Schuylerville usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around April 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Saratoga Springs 4 SW, NY, 11.8 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 12871 is 12 miles from Saratoga Springs 4 SW, NY, which stands at 326 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 12866 (Saratoga Springs). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12871 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.