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USDA Hardiness Zone 5b

Frost Dates for 14830 — Corning, New York

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Corning, NY (1,147 ft), 1 miles southwest.

Updated

In Corning, 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 2, as early as September 21 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 139 days (NOAA, Corning, NY).

Last spring frost
May 17

50% probability

First fall frost
October 2

50% probability

Growing season
139 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5b

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

First snow
November 12

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 8

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

25 of 25 observed

Snow per year
53.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Corning

Half of springs at Corning, NY see their last 32°F night by May 17; only one in ten is past it by April 30, 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 2 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 20, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 139 days in a typical year, shorter than at 91% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 160 days one year in ten and falls short of 121 one year in ten. On average 163 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 12 days longer, to about May 29, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 19 and March 31.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Corning, 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 14830 →Compare Corning with another place →

Weather by month in Corning

July is the warmest month at Corning, NY, averaging 79°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°F and 12°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 88% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,966 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 173 New York stations. 31% of them (616) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 530. Precipitation totals 38.9 inches a year, most in June (4.2") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Corning, NY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan30122.3100%290
Feb33131.9100%270
Mar42203.0100%274
Apr55313.4100%1738
May68423.188%4189
Jun75514.29%0384
Jul79553.70%0530
Aug77543.90%0484
Sep70474.238%<1266
Oct58363.6100%964
Nov45272.9100%226
Dec34192.7100%281

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Corning, NY (1,147 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, Elmira Corning Regional Airport, NY, 8 miles east of Corning and 192 feet lower, has a last frost 8 days earlier (May 9), a first frost 7 days later (October 9), a season 12 days longer.

Frost dates for 14845 (Horseheads) →

When it snows in Corning, New York

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Corning 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, 1.2 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 39 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 14830

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Corning, 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 10Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 18Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 2 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 14830 is 1 mile from Corning, NY, which stands at 1,147 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14830 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