Frost Dates for 16827 — Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

Half of springs at State College, PA see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 7, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 6 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 26 in half of years, as early as October 10 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 187 days in a typical year, longer than at 75% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 165 one year in ten. On average 122 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 1, and return around October 14. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 16 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at State College, PA, averaging 81°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°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 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,874 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 34% of them (991) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 688. Precipitation totals 41.7 inches a year, most in August (4.2") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Lewistown, PA, 18 miles southeast of Boalsburg and 710 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day later (April 21), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 24), a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Boalsburg usually arrives around November 19, and the last of the season around April 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at State College, PA, 4.3 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 19 days after the last snow.

ZIP 16827 is 4 miles from State College, PA, which stands at 1,170 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 16801 (State College). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 16827 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.