Frost Dates for 17866 — Coal Township, Pennsylvania

Half of springs at Bear Gap, PA see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 15 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 20 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 172 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 150 one year in ten. On average 127 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 12 days longer, to about May 9, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 10 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at Bear Gap, PA, averaging 84°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 35°F and 19°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 39% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,888 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 56% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 34% of them (986) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 697. Precipitation totals 48.2 inches a year, most in September (5.2") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Sunbury, PA, 13 miles west of Coal Township and 440 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days later (April 30), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 13), a season 6 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Coal Township usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bear Gap, PA, 4 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 17866 is 4 miles from Bear Gap, PA, which stands at 1,015 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 10 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 17815 (Bloomsburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 17866 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.