Frost Dates for 15558 — Salisbury, Pennsylvania

Half of springs at Meyersdale 2 SSW, PA see their last 32°F night by May 12; only one in ten is past it by April 25, and one in ten still has one after May 28. Planting tender crops after May 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 23 20%, and after May 28 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 51% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 5 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 19, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 146 days in a typical year, shorter than at 89% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 168 days one year in ten and falls short of 125 one year in ten. On average 156 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 24, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Meyersdale 2 SSW, PA, averaging 80°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 17°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 75% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,195 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 90% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 32% of them (703) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 555. Precipitation totals 41.8 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Frostburg 2, MD, 10 miles southeast of Salisbury and 170 feet higher, has a last frost 13 days earlier (April 29), a first frost 13 days later (October 18), a season 25 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Salisbury usually arrives around November 19, and the last of the season around April 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Meyersdale 2 SSW, PA, 3.6 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 15558 is 4 miles from Meyersdale 2 SSW, PA, which stands at 2,000 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 15552 (Meyersdale). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 15558 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.