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USDA Hardiness Zone 5b

Frost Dates for 13044 — Constantia, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Camden, NY (580 ft), 9 miles east.

Updated

In Constantia, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 12 in half of years and has passed by May 29 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 5, as early as September 22 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 144 days (NOAA, Camden, NY).

Last spring frost
May 12

50% probability

First fall frost
October 5

50% probability

Growing season
144 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5b

-15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) coldest night

First snow
November 10

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 16

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

19 of 19 observed

Snow per year
151.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Constantia

Half of springs at Camden, NY see their last 32°F night by May 12; only one in ten is past it by April 27, and one in ten still has one after May 29. Planting tender crops after May 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 23 20%, and after May 29 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 90% 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 22 one year in ten, and holds off past October 21 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 17, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 144 days in a typical year, shorter than at 83% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 166 days one year in ten and falls short of 123 one year in ten. On average 162 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 14 days longer, to about May 26, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 25 and March 31.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Camden, 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 13044 →Compare Constantia with another place →

Weather by month in Constantia

July is the warmest month at Camden, NY, averaging 81°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 29°F and 11°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 81% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,184 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 77% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (673) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 570. Precipitation totals 50.0 inches a year, most in October (5.1") and least in March (3.3"); May to September bring 43% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Camden, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan29113.9100%291
Feb31113.4100%270
Mar39203.3100%266
Apr54324.1100%1745
May67434.381%4207
Jun76524.47%0414
Jul81564.50%0570
Aug79554.00%0532
Sep73484.333%1313
Oct59385.196%985
Nov46294.4100%2112
Dec35194.3100%281

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Camden, NY (580 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, Brewerton Lock 23, NY, 10 miles west of Constantia and 203 feet lower, has a last frost 8 days earlier (May 4), a first frost 6 days later (October 11), a season 14 days longer.

Frost dates for 13027 (Baldwinsville) →

When it snows in Constantia, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Constantia usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Camden, NY, 8.6 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 26 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 13044

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Constantia, New York
WhenWhat to do
March 3 – March 17Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 17 – March 31Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 14 – April 28Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 12 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 13Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 21Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 5 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 13044 is 9 miles from Camden, NY, which stands at 580 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 13316 (Camden). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13044 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.

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 5b places in New York