Frost Dates for 12901 — Plattsburgh, New York

Half of springs at Plattsburgh International Airport, NY see their last 32°F night by May 6; only one in ten is past it by April 24, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 15 20%, and after May 19 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 5 in half of years, as early as September 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 8, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 152 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 170 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 one year in ten. On average 154 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 19, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 29.

July is the warmest month at Plattsburgh International Airport, NY, averaging 81°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 28°F and 10°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 70% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,230 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 73% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (686) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 617. Precipitation totals 30.9 inches a year, most in June (4.1") and least in February (1.2"); May to September bring 56% of it.

The nearest other station, S Hero, VT, 9 miles southeast of Plattsburgh, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 28), a first frost 15 days later (October 20), a season 22 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Plattsburgh usually arrives around November 18, and the last of the season around April 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at S Hero, VT, 9.3 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 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12901 is 3 miles from Plattsburgh International Airport, NY, which stands at 234 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12901 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.