Frost Dates for 14802 — Alfred, New York

Half of springs at Alfred, NY see their last 32°F night by May 18; only one in ten is past it by May 1, and one in ten still has one after June 1. Planting tender crops after May 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 28 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 17 one year in ten, and holds off past October 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 22, 10 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 155 days one year in ten and falls short of 113 one year in ten. On average 170 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 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 17 and April 3.

July is the warmest month at Alfred, NY, averaging 81°F by day and 54°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 12°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 2,033 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 90% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (659) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 535. Precipitation totals 37.8 inches a year, most in June (3.9") and least in February (1.7"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Hornell Almond Dam, NY, 8 miles northeast of Alfred and 599 feet lower, has a last frost 7 days earlier (May 11), a first frost 7 days later (October 8), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Alfred usually arrives around November 3, and the last of the season around April 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Alfred, NY, 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 37 days after the last snow.

ZIP 14802 is 2 miles from Alfred, NY, which stands at 1,924 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14802 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.