Frost Dates for 13699 — Potsdam, New York

Half of springs at Canton 4 SE, NY see their last 32°F night by May 9; only one in ten is past it by April 27, and one in ten still has one after May 25. Planting tender crops after May 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 19 20%, and after May 25 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 30 in half of years, as early as September 16 one year in ten, and holds off past October 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 14, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 142 days in a typical year, shorter than at 88% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 163 days one year in ten and falls short of 121 one year in ten. On average 161 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 22, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 17 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Canton 4 SE, NY, averaging 80°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°F and 7°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 80% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,278 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (725) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 601. Precipitation totals 38.2 inches a year, most in October (4.9") and least in February (2.0"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Colton 2 N, NY, 8 miles northeast of Potsdam, has a last frost 4 days earlier (May 5), a first frost 8 days later (October 8), a season 14 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Potsdam usually arrives around November 18, and the last of the season around April 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Canton 4 SE, NY, 5.9 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 13699 is 6 miles from Canton 4 SE, NY, which stands at 448 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 13617 (Canton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13699 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.