Frost Dates for 16611 — Alexandria, Pennsylvania

Half of springs at Raystown Lake 2, PA see their last 32°F night by April 19; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 28 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 19, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 191 days in a typical year, longer than at 82% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 211 days one year in ten and falls short of 167 one year in ten. On average 126 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 April 30, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 21 and March 6.

July is the warmest month at Raystown Lake 2, PA, averaging 85°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°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 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,189 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 69% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 33% of them (1,066) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 744. Precipitation totals 40.7 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Altoona 7 SW, PA, 19 miles southwest of Alexandria and 180 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days later (April 25), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 20), a season 14 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Alexandria usually arrives around December 5, and the last of the season around March 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Williamsburg, PA, 8.2 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 16611 is 13 miles from Raystown Lake 2, PA, which stands at 1,000 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 16652 (Huntingdon). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 16611 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.