Frost Dates for 13691 — Theresa, New York

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Watertown, NY, 17 miles south of Theresa, has a last frost 12 days earlier (May 2), a first frost 17 days later (October 13), a season 29 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Theresa 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, 17 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.

ZIP 13691 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 13691 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.