Frost Dates for 14814 — Big Flats, New York

Half of springs at Elmira Corning Regional Airport, NY see their last 32°F night by May 9; only one in ten is past it by April 26, and one in ten still has one after May 24. Planting tender crops after May 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 20 20%, and after May 24 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 29% of the 173 New York stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 9 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 15, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 151 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 171 days one year in ten and falls short of 130 one year in ten. On average 153 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 22, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 28 and March 26.

July is the warmest month at Elmira Corning Regional Airport, NY, averaging 82°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 16°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 73% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,475 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 51% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (801) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 626. Precipitation totals 32.4 inches a year, most in August (3.6") and least in February (1.3"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Corning, NY, 6 miles west of Big Flats and 192 feet higher, has a last frost 8 days later (May 17), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 2), a season 12 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Big Flats usually arrives around November 12, and the last of the season around April 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Corning, NY, 6.3 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 14814 is 3 miles from Elmira Corning Regional Airport, NY, which stands at 955 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 14845 (Horseheads). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14814 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.