Frost Dates for 15926 — Central City, Pennsylvania

Half of springs at Shawnee Sp, PA see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 19, and one in ten still has one after May 21. Planting tender crops after May 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 21 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 10 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 12, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 158 days in a typical year, shorter than at 77% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 178 days one year in ten and falls short of 137 one year in ten. On average 149 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 17, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 28 and March 16.

July is the warmest month at Shawnee Sp, PA, averaging 84°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 19°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 60% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,743 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 34% of them (932) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 665. Precipitation totals 39.9 inches a year, most in May (4.1") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Johnstown Cambria Co Airport, PA, 15 miles north of Central City and 1,009 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 29), a first frost 11 days later (October 21), a season 18 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Central City usually arrives around November 11, and the last of the season around April 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Buckstown 1 SE, PA, 2.8 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 26 days after the last snow.

ZIP 15926 is 10 miles from Shawnee Sp, PA, which stands at 1,275 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 15926 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.