Frost Dates for 14905 — Elmira, New York

Half of springs at Elmira, NY see their last 32°F night by May 6; only one in ten is past it by April 24, and one in ten still has one after May 21. Planting tender crops after May 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 15 20%, and after May 21 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 11 in half of years, as early as September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past October 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 9, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 158 days in a typical year, shorter than at 56% of the 173 New York stations; it reaches 178 days one year in ten and falls short of 139 one year in ten. On average 151 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 18, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 24.

July is the warmest month at Elmira, NY, averaging 84°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 67% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,589 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 59% of the 173 New York stations. 32% of them (837) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 651. Precipitation totals 38.1 inches a year, most in June (4.2") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Elmira Corning Regional Airport, NY, 6 miles northwest of Elmira, has a last frost 3 days later (May 9), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 9), a season 7 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Elmira usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around March 30. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Elmira, NY, 0.8 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 14905 is under a mile from Elmira, NY, which stands at 947 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 14901 (Elmira). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 14905 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.