Frost Dates for 14817 — Brooktondale, New York

Half of springs at Ithaca Cornell Univ, NY see their last 32°F night by May 11; only one in ten is past it by April 27, and one in ten still has one after May 26. Planting tender crops after May 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 21 20%, and after May 26 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 3 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around October 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 16, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 145 days in a typical year, shorter than at 80% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 164 days one year in ten and falls short of 125 one year in ten. On average 148 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 24, and return around September 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 28 and March 29.

July is the warmest month at Ithaca Cornell Univ, NY, averaging 80°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 15°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 78% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,276 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 66% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (721) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 586. Precipitation totals 38.3 inches a year, most in June (4.0") and least in February (2.0"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Ithaca 13 E, NY, 7 miles northeast of Brooktondale and 268 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days later (May 13), a first frost 1 day later (October 4).

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Brooktondale usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Ithaca Cornell Univ, NY, 7.4 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 14817 is 7 miles from Ithaca Cornell Univ, NY, which stands at 960 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 14850 (Ithaca). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14817 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.