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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 14548 — Shortsville, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Canandaigua 3 S, NY (720 ft), 9 miles south.

Updated

In Shortsville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 29 in half of years and has passed by May 12 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 22, as early as October 6 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 175 days (NOAA, Canandaigua 3 S, NY).

Last spring frost
April 29

50% probability

First fall frost
October 22

50% probability

Growing season
175 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night

First snow
November 14

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
56.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Shortsville

Half of springs at Canandaigua 3 S, NY see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 12 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 83% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 22 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, longer than at 72% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 194 days one year in ten and falls short of 155 one year in ten. On average 127 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 9 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 9. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 7 and March 19.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Canandaigua 3 S, 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 14548 →Compare Shortsville with another place →

Weather by month in Shortsville

July is the warmest month at Canandaigua 3 S, NY, averaging 81°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°F and 18°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 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,725 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 69% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (837) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 673. Precipitation totals 35.3 inches a year, most in July (4.1") and least in February (1.8"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Canandaigua 3 S, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan33181.9100%282
Feb35181.8100%261
Mar42252.7100%2410
Apr55353.2100%1059
May68473.140%<1259
Jun77573.60%0507
Jul81624.10%0673
Aug80613.30%0632
Sep74543.12%0413
Oct61433.578%2140
Nov49332.6100%1327
Dec38252.4100%253

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Canandaigua 3 S, NY (720 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, Victor 2NW, NY, 11 miles west of Shortsville, has a last frost 3 days later (May 2), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 17), a season 8 days shorter.

Frost dates for 14450 (Fairport) →

When it snows in Shortsville, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Shortsville usually arrives around November 14, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Geneva Rsch Farm, NY, 12.7 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 23 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 14548

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Shortsville, New York
WhenWhat to do
February 18 – March 4Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 4 – March 18Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 1 – April 15Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 29 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 30Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 8Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 22 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 14548 is 9 miles from Canandaigua 3 S, NY, which stands at 720 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 14424 (Canandaigua). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14548 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.

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 6b places in New York