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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 13637 — Evans Mills, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Watertown, NY (497 ft), 8 miles south.

Updated

In Evans Mills, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 2 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 October 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 163 days (NOAA, Watertown, NY).

Last spring frost
May 2

50% probability

First fall frost
October 13

50% probability

Growing season
163 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
April 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

29 of 29 observed

Snow per year
116.4"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Evans Mills

Half of springs at Watertown, NY see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 17 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 13 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 163 days in a typical year, longer than at 50% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 181 days one year in ten and falls short of 145 one year in ten. On average 144 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 11 days longer, to about May 13, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 24 and March 27.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Watertown, 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 13637 →Compare Evans Mills with another place →

Weather by month in Evans Mills

July is the warmest month at Watertown, NY, averaging 80°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 29°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 September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,547 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 53% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (795) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 648. Precipitation totals 44.5 inches a year, most in October (5.0") and least in March (2.8"); May to September bring 42% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Watertown, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan29113.6100%291
Feb31122.9100%260
Mar40222.8100%257
Apr54353.5100%1352
May67473.756%1252
Jun75573.70%0484
Jul80623.50%0648
Aug79613.80%0608
Sep72523.98%<1369
Oct59415.094%6108
Nov46314.2100%1719
Dec35203.9100%261

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Watertown, NY (497 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, Watertown International Airport, NY, 12 miles southwest of Evans Mills and 179 feet lower, has a last frost 9 days later (May 11), a first frost 12 days earlier (October 1), a season 23 days shorter.

Frost dates for 13605 (Adams) →

When it snows in Evans Mills, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Evans Mills usually arrives around November 19, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Watertown, NY, 8.3 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 26 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 13637

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Evans Mills, New York
WhenWhat to do
February 21 – March 7Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 7 – March 21Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 4 – April 18Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 2 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 13637 is 8 miles from Watertown, NY, which stands at 497 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 13601 (Watertown). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13637 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