Frost Dates for 18942 — Ottsville, Pennsylvania

Half of springs at Bucksville, PA see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 15 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 October 16 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 170 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 190 days one year in ten and falls short of 150 one year in ten. On average 139 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 10, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at Bucksville, PA, averaging 85°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°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 44% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,107 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 61% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 34% of them (1,047) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 742. Precipitation totals 51.0 inches a year, most in July (5.8") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Springtown 1 NNE, PA, 9 miles northwest of Ottsville and 473 feet higher, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 6 days later (October 22), a season 14 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ottsville usually arrives around December 18, and the last of the season around March 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bucksville, PA, 3.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 51 days after the last snow.

ZIP 18942 is 3 miles from Bucksville, PA, which stands at 387 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 08848 (Milford). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 18942 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.