Frost Dates for 12946 — Lake Placid, New York

Half of springs at Lake Placid 2 S, NY see their last 32°F night by May 27; only one in ten is past it by May 10, and one in ten still has one after June 7. Planting tender crops after June 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 4 20%, and after June 7 10%. The 11 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 97% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 22 in half of years, as early as September 8 one year in ten, and holds off past October 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 27, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 118 days in a typical year, the shortest of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 138 days one year in ten and falls short of 98 one year in ten. On average 184 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 9 days longer, to about June 5, and return around September 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 8 and April 9.

July is the warmest month at Lake Placid 2 S, NY, averaging 74°F by day and 54°F at night; January is the coldest at 23°F and 7°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,523 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 99% of the 173 New York stations. 30% of them (452) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 439. Precipitation totals 43.8 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Ray Brook, NY, 7 miles west of Lake Placid and 268 feet lower, has a last frost 6 days earlier (May 21), a first frost 2 days later (September 24), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lake Placid usually arrives around October 22, and the last of the season around April 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lake Placid 2 S, NY, 1.5 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 12946 is 2 miles from Lake Placid 2 S, NY, which stands at 1,888 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 12946 in zone 4a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -30 to -25°F (-34.4 to -31.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.