USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Frost Dates for 17557 — New Holland, Pennsylvania
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from New Holland 2 SE, PA (605 ft), 2 miles south.
Updated
In New Holland, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 14 in half of years and has passed by April 30 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 1, as early as October 17 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 198 days (NOAA, New Holland 2 SE, PA).
- Last spring frost
- April 14
- First fall frost
- November 1
- Growing season
- 198 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 2
- Last snow
- March 24
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- 33.5"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
28 of 28 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in New Holland
Half of springs at New Holland 2 SE, PA see their last 32°F night by April 14; only one in ten is past it by April 1, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 24 20%, and after April 30 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 November 1 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 88% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 217 days one year in ten and falls short of 178 one year in ten. On average 97 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 25, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 20 and March 4.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 12 | Apr 17 | Apr 20 | Apr 22 | Apr 25 | Apr 30 | May 2 | May 6 | May 12 |
| 32°F | Apr 1 | Apr 5 | Apr 8 | Apr 11 | Apr 14 | Apr 17 | Apr 20 | Apr 24 | Apr 30 |
| 28°F | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Mar 30 | Apr 1 | Apr 3 | Apr 5 | Apr 8 | Apr 12 | Apr 17 |
| 24°F | Mar 7 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 21 | Mar 25 | Mar 27 | Mar 30 | Apr 2 | Apr 4 |
| 20°F | Feb 25 | Mar 3 | Mar 7 | Mar 10 | Mar 13 | Mar 16 | Mar 19 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 |
| 16°F | Feb 12 | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Mar 1 | Mar 4 | Mar 7 | Mar 10 | Mar 14 | Mar 19 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 6 | Oct 11 | Oct 14 | Oct 17 | Oct 20 | Oct 23 | Oct 25 | Oct 29 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F | Oct 17 | Oct 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 13 |
| 28°F | Oct 31 | Nov 3 | Nov 6 | Nov 9 | Nov 11 | Nov 14 | Nov 17 | Nov 21 | Nov 28 |
| 24°F | Nov 8 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 18 | Nov 22 | Nov 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 11 |
| 20°F | Nov 16 | Nov 23 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 9 | Dec 14 | Dec 19 | Dec 26 |
| 16°F | Nov 29 | Dec 4 | Dec 10 | Dec 15 | Dec 20 | Dec 25 | Dec 29 | Jan 3 | Jan 11 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at New Holland 2 SE, 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 17557 →Compare New Holland with another place →
Weather by month in New Holland
July is the warmest month at New Holland 2 SE, PA, averaging 86°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month.
Warmth for growing adds up to 3,607 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 93% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 34% of them (1,238) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 809. Precipitation totals 46.9 inches a year, most in September (4.9") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 46% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39 | 24 | 3.3 | 100% | 24 | 5 |
| Feb | 42 | 25 | 2.8 | 100% | 22 | 4 |
| Mar | 51 | 32 | 4.1 | 100% | 16 | 32 |
| Apr | 63 | 42 | 3.6 | 90% | 3 | 151 |
| May | 73 | 53 | 3.5 | 10% | <1 | 399 |
| Jun | 81 | 62 | 4.5 | 0% | 0 | 646 |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 4.4 | 0% | 0 | 809 |
| Aug | 84 | 65 | 4.3 | 0% | 0 | 761 |
| Sep | 77 | 58 | 4.9 | 0% | 0 | 523 |
| Oct | 65 | 47 | 4.6 | 48% | 1 | 221 |
| Nov | 54 | 37 | 3.2 | 99% | 10 | 47 |
| Dec | 43 | 29 | 3.7 | 100% | 21 | 9 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New Holland 2 SE, PA (605 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 2NE Fltr Plt, PA, 11 miles west of New Holland and 335 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days later (April 19), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 24), a season 12 days shorter.
When it snows in New Holland, Pennsylvania
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New Holland usually arrives around December 2, and the last of the season around March 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at New Holland 2 SE, PA, 1.9 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 17557
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 3 – February 17 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 17 – March 3 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 17 – March 31 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 14 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 9 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 18 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 1 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 17557 is 2 miles from New Holland 2 SE, PA, which stands at 605 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 17557 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.