Frost Dates for 14132 — Sanborn, New York

Half of springs at Niagara Falls International Airport, NY see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 63% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 19 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 167 days in a typical year, longer than at 60% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 187 days one year in ten and falls short of 149 one year in ten. On average 132 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 10 days longer, to about May 11, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 19.

July is the warmest month at Niagara Falls International Airport, NY, averaging 81°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 17°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 54% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,530 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (780) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 649. Precipitation totals 33.0 inches a year, most in July (3.4") and least in February (1.8"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, N Tonawanda, NY, 6 miles south of Sanborn, has a last frost 5 days later (May 6), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 15), a season 7 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sanborn usually arrives around November 11, and the last of the season around April 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at N Tonawanda, NY, 5.8 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 18 days after the last snow.

ZIP 14132 is 4 miles from Niagara Falls International Airport, NY, which stands at 585 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14132 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.