Frost Dates for 13502 — Utica, New York

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Trenton Falls, NY, 12 miles north of Utica, has a last frost 3 days later (May 4), the same first-frost date, a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Utica 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, 18.3 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.

ZIP 13502 is 8 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 13502 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.