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USDA Hardiness Zone 4b

Frost Dates for 13648 — Harrisville, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Gouverneur 3 NW, NY (420 ft), 17 miles northwest.

Updated

In Harrisville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 14 in half of years and has passed by May 30 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around September 26, as early as September 12 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 134 days (NOAA, Gouverneur 3 NW, NY).

Last spring frost
May 14

50% probability

First fall frost
September 26

50% probability

Growing season
134 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
4b

-25 to -20°F (-31.7 to -28.9°C) coldest night

First snow
November 12

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 12

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

29 of 29 observed

Snow per year
92.4"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Harrisville

Half of springs at Gouverneur 3 NW, NY see their last 32°F night by May 14; only one in ten is past it by April 30, and one in ten still has one after May 30. Planting tender crops after May 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 24 20%, and after May 30 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 September 26 in half of years, as early as September 12 one year in ten, and holds off past October 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 17, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 134 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 154 days one year in ten and falls short of 113 one year in ten. On average 166 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 13 days longer, to about May 27, and return around September 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and April 2.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Gouverneur 3 NW, 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 13648 →Compare Harrisville with another place →

Weather by month in Harrisville

July is the warmest month at Gouverneur 3 NW, NY, averaging 79°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°F and 5°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 89% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,073 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 85% of the 173 New York stations. 30% of them (629) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 566. Precipitation totals 39.9 inches a year, most in October (4.7") and least in February (2.1"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Gouverneur 3 NW, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2752.8100%301
Feb2962.1100%270
Mar39172.3100%274
Apr53313.2100%1734
May66423.389%4178
Jun75533.97%<1413
Jul79573.80%0566
Aug78553.40%0518
Sep71473.860%2282
Oct58364.7100%1168
Nov45273.6100%2110
Dec33153.0100%281

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Gouverneur 3 NW, NY (420 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, Lowville, NY, 28 miles south of Harrisville and 443 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days earlier (May 8), a first frost 5 days later (October 1), a season 11 days longer.

Frost dates for 13367 (Lowville) →

When it snows in Harrisville, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Harrisville usually arrives around November 12, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gouverneur 3 NW, NY, 16.8 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 32 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 13648

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Harrisville, New York
WhenWhat to do
March 5 – March 19Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 19 – April 2Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 16 – April 30Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 14 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 4Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 12Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
September 26 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 13648 is 17 miles from Gouverneur 3 NW, NY, which stands at 420 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 13642 (Gouverneur). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13648 in zone 4b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -25 to -20°F (-31.7 to -28.9°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 4b places in New York