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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 18472 — Waymart, Pennsylvania

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA (1,800 ft), 11 miles north.

Updated

In Waymart, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 14 in half of years and has passed by May 29 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 1, as early as September 21 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 140 days (NOAA, Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA).

Last spring frost
May 14

50% probability

First fall frost
October 1

50% probability

Growing season
140 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
November 13

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 5

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

24 of 24 observed

Snow per year
69.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Waymart

Half of springs at Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA see their last 32°F night by May 14; only one in ten is past it by April 30, and one in ten still has one after May 29. Planting tender crops after May 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 24 20%, and after May 29 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 72% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 1 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 18, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 140 days in a typical year, shorter than at 94% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 158 days one year in ten and falls short of 121 one year in ten. On average 169 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 27, and return around September 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 19 and March 31.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Pleasant Mt 1 W, 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 18472 →Compare Waymart with another place →

Weather by month in Waymart

July is the warmest month at Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA, averaging 77°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 29°F and 12°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 86% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,887 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 98% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 31% of them (577) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 516. Precipitation totals 51.5 inches a year, most in June (5.0") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan29123.5100%300
Feb32133.0100%280
Mar40203.6100%283
Apr53314.2100%1834
May65434.986%3171
Jun73525.05%<1369
Jul77565.00%0516
Aug76554.50%0467
Sep69475.041%1259
Oct57365.099%1162
Nov45273.8100%226
Dec34194.0100%291

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA (1,800 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, Hawley 1 E, PA, 14 miles southeast of Waymart and 910 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days earlier (May 10), a first frost 3 days later (October 4), a season 6 days longer.

Frost dates for 18436 (Lake Ariel) →

When it snows in Waymart, Pennsylvania

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Waymart usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA, 11.4 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 39 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 18472

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Waymart, Pennsylvania
WhenWhat to do
March 5 – March 19Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 19 – April 2Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 16 – April 30Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 14 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 9Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 17Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 1 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 18472 is 11 miles from Pleasant Mt 1 W, PA, which stands at 1,800 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 18407 (Carbondale). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 18472 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°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 6a places in Pennsylvania