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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 13456 — Sauquoit, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Utica Oneida Co Airport, NY (711 ft), 11 miles northwest.

Updated

In Sauquoit, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 1 in half of years and has passed by May 17 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 13, as early as September 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 164 days (NOAA, Utica Oneida Co Airport, NY).

Last spring frost
May 1

50% probability

First fall frost
October 13

50% probability

Growing season
164 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

-20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) coldest night

First snow
November 19

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 31

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
93%

14 of 15 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Sauquoit

Half of springs at Utica Oneida Co Airport, NY see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 19, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 17 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 13 in half of years, as early as September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 54% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 185 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 one year in ten. On average 140 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 13, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 28 and March 26.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Utica Oneida Co Airport, 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 13456 →Compare Sauquoit with another place →

Weather by month in Sauquoit

July is the warmest month at Utica Oneida Co Airport, NY, averaging 81°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°F and 14°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,414 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 55% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (756) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 621. Precipitation totals 44.2 inches a year, most in August (4.7") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Utica Oneida Co Airport, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan30142.7100%281
Feb32152.3100%260
Mar41233.0100%255
Apr55353.9100%1250
May68463.951%1235
Jun76554.50%0466
Jul81604.20%0621
Aug79584.70%0570
Sep72513.514%<1344
Oct59414.388%6104
Nov46313.6100%1717
Dec35213.6100%261

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Utica Oneida Co Airport, NY (711 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, Rome Griffiss Airfield, NY, 17 miles northwest of Sauquoit and 192 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days later (May 6), the same first-frost date, a season 7 days shorter.

Frost dates for 13440 (Rome) →

When it snows in Sauquoit, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sauquoit 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, 20.2 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 31 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 13456

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Sauquoit, New York
WhenWhat to do
February 20 – March 6Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 6 – March 20Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 3 – April 17Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 1 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 21Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 29Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 13 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 13456 is 11 miles from Utica Oneida Co Airport, NY, which stands at 711 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 13 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 13501 (Utica). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13456 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°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 5a places in New York