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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 19440 — Hatfield, Pennsylvania

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Sellersville, PA (302 ft), 5 miles north.

Updated

In Hatfield, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 26 in half of years and has passed by May 12 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 17, as early as October 5 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 175 days (NOAA, Sellersville, PA).

Last spring frost
April 26

50% probability

First fall frost
October 17

50% probability

Growing season
175 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 17

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 15

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
95%

19 of 20 observed

Snow per year
21.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Hatfield

Half of springs at Sellersville, PA see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 12 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 17 in half of years, as early as October 5 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 48% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations; it reaches 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 156 one year in ten. On average 131 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 10 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and March 10.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Sellersville, 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 19440 →Compare Hatfield with another place →

Weather by month in Hatfield

July is the warmest month at Sellersville, PA, averaging 85°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°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 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,059 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 56% of the 176 Pennsylvania stations. 33% of them (998) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 742. Precipitation totals 51.7 inches a year, most in July (5.3") and least in February (3.1"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Sellersville, PA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan38193.6100%281
Feb41213.1100%251
Mar49284.4100%2217
Apr62384.198%8106
May71484.633%1315
Jun80574.70%0558
Jul85635.30%0742
Aug83614.70%0680
Sep77544.92%0454
Oct64414.488%5152
Nov53323.5100%1827
Dec43254.4100%255

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Sellersville, PA (302 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, Graterford 1 E, PA, 8 miles southwest of Hatfield, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 24), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 15), a season 2 days shorter.

Frost dates for 19446 (Lansdale) →

When it snows in Hatfield, Pennsylvania

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hatfield usually arrives around December 17, and the last of the season around March 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Sellersville, PA, 5.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 95% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 19440

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Hatfield, Pennsylvania
WhenWhat to do
February 15 – March 1Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 1 – March 15Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 29 – April 12Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 26 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 25Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 3Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 17 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 19440 is 5 miles from Sellersville, PA, which stands at 302 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 18951 (Quakertown). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 19440 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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in Pennsylvania