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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 15059 — Midland, Pennsylvania

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Montgomery L&D, PA (690 ft), 5 miles east.

Updated

In Midland, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 28 in half of years and has passed by May 15 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 26, as early as October 9 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 178 days (NOAA, Montgomery L&D, PA).

Last spring frost
April 28

50% probability

First fall frost
October 26

50% probability

Growing season
178 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night

First snow
December 17

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
87%

26 of 30 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Midland

Half of springs at Montgomery L&D, PA see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 50% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 26 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, longer than at 61% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 197 days one year in ten and falls short of 156 one year in ten. On average 111 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 11 days longer, to about May 9, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 10 and March 11.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Montgomery L&D, PA, 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 15059 →Compare Midland with another place →

Weather by month in Midland

July is the warmest month at Montgomery L&D, PA, averaging 82°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 35°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 41% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,917 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 33% of them (977) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 676. Precipitation totals 40.7 inches a year, most in July (4.4") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Montgomery L&D, PA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan35212.9100%252
Feb38222.5100%232
Mar48293.1100%1922
Apr61383.699%7107
May71493.841%1311
Jun78574.30%0533
Jul82624.40%0676
Aug81613.40%0639
Sep75544.12%0436
Oct63442.972%1161
Nov50332.8100%1326
Dec40262.9100%223

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Montgomery L&D, PA (690 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, Beaver Falls 1 NE, PA, 11 miles northeast of Midland, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 27), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 25).

Frost dates for 16066 (Cranberry Township) →

When it snows in Midland, Pennsylvania

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Midland usually arrives around December 17, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Montgomery L&D, PA, 4.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 87% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 53 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 15059

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Midland, Pennsylvania
WhenWhat to do
February 17 – March 3Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 3 – March 17Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 31 – April 14Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 28 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 3Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 12Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 26 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 15059 is 5 miles from Montgomery L&D, PA, which stands at 690 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 15009 (Beaver). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 15059 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Pennsylvania →

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 6b places in Pennsylvania