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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 12944 — Keeseville, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Peru 2 WSW, NY (510 ft), 7 miles northwest.

Updated

In Keeseville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 4 in half of years and has passed by May 17 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 4, as early as September 23 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 152 days (NOAA, Peru 2 WSW, NY).

Last spring frost
May 4

50% probability

First fall frost
October 4

50% probability

Growing season
152 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

-20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) coldest night

First snow
November 14

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

26 of 26 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Keeseville

Half of springs at Peru 2 WSW, NY see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 24, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 13 20%, and after May 17 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 4 in half of years, as early as September 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 12 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 133 one year in ten. On average 152 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 16, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 29.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMay 3May 7May 11May 14May 16May 19May 22May 26May 31
32°FApr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 2May 4May 7May 10May 13May 17
28°FApr 11Apr 16Apr 20Apr 22Apr 24Apr 26Apr 29May 1May 5
24°FApr 1Apr 4Apr 8Apr 10Apr 13Apr 16Apr 18Apr 22Apr 25
20°FMar 22Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 16
16°FMar 15Mar 19Mar 22Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 8
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 12Sep 17Sep 21Sep 23Sep 26Sep 28Sep 30Oct 3Oct 7
32°FSep 23Sep 27Sep 30Oct 2Oct 4Oct 7Oct 10Oct 14Oct 20
28°FOct 3Oct 7Oct 11Oct 14Oct 17Oct 20Oct 24Oct 29Nov 3
24°FOct 14Oct 20Oct 24Oct 28Oct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 10Nov 15
20°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 6Nov 9Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 24
16°FNov 7Nov 12Nov 15Nov 18Nov 20Nov 23Nov 25Nov 29Dec 2

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Peru 2 WSW, NY, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 12944 →Compare Keeseville with another place →

Weather by month in Keeseville

July is the warmest month at Peru 2 WSW, NY, averaging 82°F by day and 60°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 66% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,474 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 52% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (804) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 642.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Peru 2 WSW, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °F32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2810100%301
Feb3212100%260
Mar4122100%266
Apr5634100%1454
May694666%2254
Jun78550%0489
Jul82600%0642
Aug80570%0578
Sep735030%<1345
Oct593998%793
Nov4629100%2011
Dec3418100%281

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Peru 2 WSW, NY (510 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Willsboro 1 N, NY, 8 miles southeast of Keeseville and 330 feet lower, has a last frost 2 days earlier (May 2), a first frost 10 days later (October 14), a season 13 days longer.

Frost dates for 05445 (Charlotte) →

When it snows in Keeseville, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Keeseville usually arrives around November 14, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Peru 2 WSW, NY, 7.2 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 28 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 12944

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Keeseville, New York
WhenWhat to do
February 23 – March 9Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 9 – March 23Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 6 – April 20Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 4 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 12Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 20Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 4 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 12944 is 7 miles from Peru 2 WSW, NY, which stands at 510 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 12972 (Peru). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12944 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.

Frost dates across New York →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 5a places in New York