USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Frost Dates for 17349 — New Freedom, Pennsylvania
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Millers 4 NE, MD (860 ft), 7 miles west.
Updated
In New Freedom, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 19 in half of years and has passed by May 8 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 25, as early as October 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 188 days (NOAA, Millers 4 NE, MD).
- Last spring frost
- April 19
- First fall frost
- October 25
- Growing season
- 188 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night
- First snow
- December 3
- Last snow
- March 29
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- 34.1"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
30 of 30 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in New Freedom
Half of springs at Millers 4 NE, MD see their last 32°F night by April 19; only one in ten is past it by April 4, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 90% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 188 days in a typical year, longer than at 76% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 101 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 2, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 16 and March 5.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 17 | Apr 21 | Apr 26 | Apr 29 | May 2 | May 6 | May 9 | May 13 | May 18 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Apr 9 | Apr 12 | Apr 15 | Apr 19 | Apr 22 | Apr 26 | May 1 | May 8 |
| 28°F | Mar 22 | Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Apr 2 | Apr 5 | Apr 8 | Apr 11 | Apr 15 | Apr 21 |
| 24°F | Mar 10 | Mar 15 | Mar 19 | Mar 21 | Mar 25 | Mar 27 | Mar 30 | Apr 1 | Apr 6 |
| 20°F | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 8 | Mar 12 | Mar 15 | Mar 18 | Mar 20 | Mar 24 | Mar 28 |
| 16°F | Feb 15 | Feb 22 | Feb 27 | Mar 2 | Mar 5 | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 16 | Mar 20 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 1 | Oct 4 | Oct 7 | Oct 10 | Oct 13 | Oct 16 | Oct 20 | Oct 23 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | Oct 8 | Oct 13 | Oct 17 | Oct 22 | Oct 25 | Oct 28 | Oct 31 | Nov 3 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Oct 20 | Oct 26 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 14 | Nov 20 |
| 24°F | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 9 | Nov 12 | Nov 15 | Nov 19 | Nov 23 | Nov 29 | Dec 5 |
| 20°F | Nov 11 | Nov 17 | Nov 22 | Nov 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 |
| 16°F | Nov 27 | Dec 2 | Dec 6 | Dec 11 | Dec 16 | Dec 20 | Dec 23 | Dec 29 | Jan 5 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Millers 4 NE, MD, 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 17349 →Compare New Freedom with another place →
Weather by month in New Freedom
July is the warmest month at Millers 4 NE, MD, averaging 85°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 24°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 3,441 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 88% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 35% of them (1,207) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 764. Precipitation totals 47.8 inches a year, most in September (5.1") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 46% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40 | 24 | 3.6 | 100% | 24 | 5 |
| Feb | 43 | 25 | 2.9 | 100% | 22 | 6 |
| Mar | 52 | 32 | 4.1 | 100% | 17 | 38 |
| Apr | 65 | 42 | 3.8 | 95% | 4 | 162 |
| May | 73 | 51 | 4.0 | 21% | <1 | 383 |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 3.8 | 0% | 0 | 612 |
| Jul | 85 | 64 | 4.7 | 0% | 0 | 764 |
| Aug | 83 | 63 | 4.2 | 0% | 0 | 708 |
| Sep | 77 | 56 | 5.1 | 0% | 0 | 496 |
| Oct | 65 | 45 | 4.2 | 71% | 2 | 206 |
| Nov | 54 | 36 | 3.4 | 100% | 11 | 50 |
| Dec | 44 | 28 | 4.0 | 100% | 21 | 11 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Millers 4 NE, MD (860 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, York 3 SSW Pump Stn, PA, 12 miles north of New Freedom and 470 feet lower, has a last frost 7 days later (April 26), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 19), a season 11 days shorter.
When it snows in New Freedom, Pennsylvania
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New Freedom usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around March 29. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Millers 4 NE, MD, 6.9 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 21 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 17349
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 8 – February 22 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 22 – March 8 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 22 – April 5 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 19 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 2 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 11 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| October 25 onward | Plant 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 17349 is 7 miles from Millers 4 NE, MD, which stands at 860 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 12 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 21074 (Hampstead). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 17349 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°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.