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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 13790 — Johnson City, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Binghamton, NY (1,606 ft), 5 miles north.

Updated

In Johnson City, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 2 in half of years and has passed by May 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 11, as early as September 28 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 162 days (NOAA, Binghamton, NY).

Last spring frost
May 2

50% probability

First fall frost
October 11

50% probability

Growing season
162 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
November 3

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 10

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
86.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Johnson City

Half of springs at Binghamton, NY see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 19, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 18 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 11 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 7, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 162 days in a typical year, shorter than at 50% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 182 days one year in ten and falls short of 140 one year in ten. On average 142 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 September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 24.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Binghamton, 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 13790 →Compare Johnson City with another place →

Weather by month in Johnson City

July is the warmest month at Binghamton, NY, averaging 78°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°F and 16°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 54% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,267 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (727) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 586. Precipitation totals 42.1 inches a year, most in June (4.7") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Binghamton, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan30162.6100%291
Feb32172.4100%260
Mar41243.1100%2410
Apr54353.6100%1156
May66463.854%1225
Jun74554.70%0435
Jul78593.80%0586
Aug77584.10%0538
Sep70514.015%<1311
Oct57413.891%590
Nov45313.1100%1815
Dec34223.1100%271

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Binghamton, NY (1,606 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, Endicott, NY, 7 miles southwest of Johnson City and 779 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days later (May 5), a first frost 1 day later (October 12), a season 3 days shorter.

Frost dates for 13760 (Endicott) →

When it snows in Johnson City, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Johnson City usually arrives around November 3, and the last of the season around April 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Binghamton, NY, 5.2 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 22 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 13790

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Johnson City, 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 19Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 27Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 11 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 13790 is 5 miles from Binghamton, NY, which stands at 1,606 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 13905 (Binghamton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 13790 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°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 6a places in New York