Frost Dates for 18704 — Kingston, Pennsylvania

Half of springs at Wilkes-Barre International Airport, PA see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 50% 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 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, longer than at 61% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 200 days one year in ten and falls short of 156 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 11 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and March 13.

July is the warmest month at Wilkes-Barre International Airport, PA, averaging 85°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 20°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 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,103 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 59% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 34% of them (1,057) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 733. Precipitation totals 39.0 inches a year, most in September (4.2") and least in February (2.1"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Francis E Walter Dam, PA, 14 miles southeast of Kingston and 579 feet higher, has a last frost 14 days later (May 7), a first frost 14 days earlier (October 6), a season 25 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kingston usually arrives around November 12, and the last of the season around April 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wilkes-Barre International Airport, PA, 9.4 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 22 days after the last snow.

ZIP 18704 is 9 miles from Wilkes-Barre International Airport, PA, which stands at 930 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 32 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 18702 (Wilkes Barre). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 18704 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.