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USDA Hardiness Zone 5b

Frost Dates for 13092 — Locke, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Freeville 1 NE, NY (1,050 ft), 10 miles southeast.

Updated

In Locke, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 7 in half of years and has passed by May 23 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 8, as early as September 27 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 154 days (NOAA, Freeville 1 NE, NY).

Last spring frost
May 7

50% probability

First fall frost
October 8

50% probability

Growing season
154 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5b

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

First snow
November 13

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

26 of 26 observed

Snow per year
64.4"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Locke

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.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Freeville 1 NE, 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 13092 →Compare Locke with another place →

Weather by month in Locke

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Freeville 1 NE, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan30122.2100%290
Feb33122.0100%261
Mar40202.7100%279
Apr53333.2100%1741
May66443.568%3205
Jun75534.21%<1413
Jul79584.10%0570
Aug78554.10%0508
Sep71494.118%1298
Oct58383.996%779
Nov46292.8100%2113
Dec35212.7100%261

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Freeville 1 NE, NY (1,050 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, Aurora Rsch Farm, NY, 13 miles northwest of Locke and 220 feet lower, has a last frost 6 days earlier (May 1), a first frost 13 days later (October 21), a season 18 days longer.

Frost dates for 13118 (Moravia) →

When it snows in Locke, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Locke 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, 9.8 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.

Planting calendar for 13092

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Locke, New York
WhenWhat to do
February 26 – March 12Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 12 – March 26Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 9 – April 23Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 7 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 16Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 24Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 8 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 13092 is 10 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 13092 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