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USDA Hardiness Zone 5b

Frost Dates for 14726 — Conewango Valley, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Little Valley, NY (1,625 ft), 12 miles east.

Updated

In Conewango Valley, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 17 in half of years and has passed by May 31 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 1, as early as September 18 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 136 days (NOAA, Little Valley, NY).

Last spring frost
May 17

50% probability

First fall frost
October 1

50% probability

Growing season
136 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5b

-15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) coldest night

First snow
November 7

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 7

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

28 of 28 observed

Snow per year
133.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Conewango Valley

Half of springs at Little Valley, NY see their last 32°F night by May 17; only one in ten is past it by May 1, and one in ten still has one after May 31. Planting tender crops after May 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 27 20%, and after May 31 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 1 in half of years, as early as September 18 one year in ten, and holds off past October 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 21, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 136 days in a typical year, shorter than at 93% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 158 days one year in ten and falls short of 115 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 14 days longer, to about May 31, and return around September 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 22 and April 2.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Little Valley, 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 14726 →Compare Conewango Valley with another place →

Weather by month in Conewango Valley

July is the warmest month at Little Valley, NY, averaging 79°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 14°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 1,999 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (626) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 518. Precipitation totals 49.2 inches a year, most in July (5.2") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Little Valley, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan31144.3100%291
Feb33132.5100%271
Mar41193.5100%278
Apr55313.9100%1942
May67423.989%6191
Jun75514.69%0384
Jul79555.20%0518
Aug77544.31%0477
Sep71474.544%1282
Oct59374.798%1081
Nov46294.0100%2113
Dec35213.8100%282

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Little Valley, NY (1,625 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, Jamestown 4 ENE, NY, 12 miles southwest of Conewango Valley and 375 feet lower, has a last frost 9 days earlier (May 8), a first frost 12 days later (October 13), a season 22 days longer.

Frost dates for 14701 (Jamestown) →

When it snows in Conewango Valley, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Conewango Valley usually arrives around November 7, and the last of the season around April 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Little Valley, NY, 11.5 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 40 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 14726

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Conewango Valley, New York
WhenWhat to do
March 8 – March 22Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 22 – April 5Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 19 – May 3Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 17 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 9Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 17Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 1 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 14726 is 12 miles from Little Valley, NY, which stands at 1,625 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 14772 (Randolph). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14726 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°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 5b places in New York