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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 17538 — Landisville, Pennsylvania

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Landisville 2 NW, PA (360 ft), 2 miles north.

Updated

In Landisville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 30 in half of years and has passed by May 13 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 10, as early as September 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 162 days (NOAA, Landisville 2 NW, PA).

Last spring frost
April 30

50% probability

First fall frost
October 10

50% probability

Growing season
162 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 10

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 19

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

28 of 28 observed

Snow per year
23.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Landisville

Half of springs at Landisville 2 NW, PA see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 94% 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 29 one year in ten, and holds off past October 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 162 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 182 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 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 9 days longer, to about May 9, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 14.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 28May 1May 4May 6May 9May 12May 15May 18May 22
32°FApr 16Apr 21Apr 25Apr 28Apr 30May 2May 5May 8May 13
28°FApr 5Apr 9Apr 13Apr 16Apr 18Apr 21Apr 24Apr 28May 2
24°FMar 22Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 7Apr 11Apr 15Apr 19
20°FMar 8Mar 14Mar 18Mar 22Mar 25Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 7
16°FFeb 25Mar 2Mar 7Mar 11Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 25Mar 29
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 19Sep 23Sep 26Sep 28Sep 30Oct 2Oct 5Oct 8Oct 12
32°FSep 29Oct 2Oct 5Oct 8Oct 10Oct 13Oct 16Oct 21Oct 26
28°FOct 8Oct 13Oct 17Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 5
24°FOct 19Oct 25Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 13Nov 19
20°FNov 2Nov 6Nov 10Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24Nov 30Dec 4
16°FNov 12Nov 17Nov 22Nov 27Dec 1Dec 3Dec 7Dec 12Dec 19

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Landisville 2 NW, PA, 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 17538 →Compare Landisville with another place →

Weather by month in Landisville

July is the warmest month at Landisville 2 NW, PA, averaging 85°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°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 45% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,008 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 34% of them (1,033) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 710. Precipitation totals 45.1 inches a year, most in July (4.8") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Landisville 2 NW, PA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan37193.1100%262
Feb41202.4100%242
Mar50283.6100%2019
Apr63373.6100%8107
May73483.945%1330
Jun81584.30%0573
Jul85614.80%0710
Aug83594.00%0649
Sep76524.713%<1434
Oct65414.296%5151
Nov53323.2100%1628
Dec42243.3100%243

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Landisville 2 NW, PA (360 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, Lancaster Airport, PA, 7 miles east of Landisville, has a last frost 12 days earlier (April 18), a first frost 15 days later (October 25), a season 24 days longer.

Frost dates for 17543 (Lititz) →

When it snows in Landisville, Pennsylvania

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Landisville usually arrives around December 10, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Landisville 2 NW, PA, 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 42 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 17538

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Landisville, Pennsylvania
WhenWhat to do
February 19 – March 5Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 5 – March 19Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 2 – April 16Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 30 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 18Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 26Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 10 onwardPlant 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 17538 is 2 miles from Landisville 2 NW, PA, which stands at 360 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 17545 (Manheim). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 17538 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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in Pennsylvania