Frost Dates for 14779 — Salamanca, New York

Half of springs at Salamanca 2, NY see their last 32°F night by May 18; only one in ten is past it by May 2, and one in ten still has one after June 1. Planting tender crops after May 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 29 20%, and after June 1 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 19 one year in ten, and holds off past October 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 23, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 135 days in a typical year, shorter than at 94% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 156 days one year in ten and falls short of 116 one year in ten. On average 180 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 31, and return around September 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 16 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Salamanca 2, NY, averaging 82°F by day and 54°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 13°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 90% of years and June still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,151 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 79% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (697) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 556. Precipitation totals 47.2 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in February (2.6"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Little Valley, NY, 7 miles northwest of Salamanca and 210 feet higher, has a last frost 1 day earlier (May 17), the same first-frost date, a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Salamanca usually arrives around November 7, and the last of the season around April 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Salamanca 2, NY, 1.3 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.

ZIP 14779 is 1 mile from Salamanca 2, NY, which stands at 1,415 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14779 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.