Frost Dates for 13350 — Herkimer, New York

Half of springs at Little Falls City Rsch, NY see their last 32°F night by May 5; only one in ten is past it by April 24, and one in ten still has one after May 20. Planting tender crops after May 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 16 20%, and after May 20 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 4 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 9, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 151 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 170 days one year in ten and falls short of 133 one year in ten. On average 164 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 17, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Little Falls City Rsch, NY, averaging 81°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°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 69% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,275 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 67% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (716) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 604.

The nearest other station, Trenton Falls, NY, 19 miles northwest of Herkimer, has a last frost 1 day earlier (May 4), a first frost 9 days later (October 13), a season 10 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Herkimer usually arrives around November 19, and the last of the season around March 31. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Little Falls City Rsch, NY, 6.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 13350 is 6 miles from Little Falls City Rsch, NY, which stands at 893 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 13357 (Ilion). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13350 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.