Frost Dates for 13068 — Freeville, New York

Half of springs at Freeville 1 NE, NY see their last 32°F night by May 7; only one in ten is past it by April 23, and one in ten still has one after May 23. Planting tender crops after May 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 23 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 71% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 8 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 16 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 10, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 154 days in a typical year, shorter than at 66% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 174 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 one year in ten. On average 156 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 19, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 25 and March 27.

July is the warmest month at Freeville 1 NE, NY, averaging 79°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°F and 12°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 68% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,138 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 80% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (669) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 570. Precipitation totals 39.5 inches a year, most in June (4.2") and least in February (2.0"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Ithaca Cornell Univ, NY, 6 miles southwest of Freeville, has a last frost 4 days later (May 11), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 3), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Freeville usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Freeville 1 NE, 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 13068 is 2 miles from Freeville 1 NE, NY, which stands at 1,050 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 13045 (Cortland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13068 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.