Frost Dates for 13156 — Sterling, New York

Half of springs at Oswego, NY see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 29% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 29 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 22, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 187 days in a typical year, longer than at 82% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 165 one year in ten. On average 119 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 4, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 11 and March 15.

July is the warmest month at Oswego, NY, averaging 80°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,660 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 64% of the 173 New York stations. 30% of them (795) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 666. Precipitation totals 43.3 inches a year, most in October (4.6") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Fulton, NY, 14 miles east of Sterling, has a last frost 5 days later (April 27), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 24), a season 7 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sterling usually arrives around November 8, and the last of the season around April 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Oswego, NY, 10.3 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 13 days after the last snow.

ZIP 13156 is 10 miles from Oswego, NY, which stands at 324 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 13126 (Oswego). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13156 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.