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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 43062 — Pataskala, Ohio

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH (810 ft), 11 miles west.

Updated

In Pataskala, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 18 in half of years and has passed by May 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 27, as early as October 14 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 191 days (NOAA, Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH).

Last spring frost
April 18

50% probability

First fall frost
October 27

50% probability

Growing season
191 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
November 21

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 29

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
28.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Pataskala

Half of springs at Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 4, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 29 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 24% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 27 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 191 days in a typical year, longer than at 84% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 209 days one year in ten and falls short of 169 one year in ten. On average 103 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 April 29, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 14 and March 5.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH, 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 43062 →Compare Pataskala with another place →

Weather by month in Pataskala

July is the warmest month at Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH, averaging 85°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°F and 22°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 17% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,607 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 85% of the 148 Ohio stations. 36% of them (1,302) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 787. Precipitation totals 41.5 inches a year, most in July (4.7") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan37223.0100%256
Feb41242.4100%227
Mar51323.6100%1746
Apr64423.994%4170
May74524.017%<1416
Jun82624.30%0657
Jul85654.70%0787
Aug84643.70%0744
Sep78573.10%0515
Oct66452.968%2204
Nov52352.8100%1245
Dec42273.1100%229

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH (810 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, Newark Heath Airport, OH, 11 miles east of Pataskala, has a last frost 4 days later (April 22), a first frost 9 days earlier (October 18), a season 13 days shorter.

Frost dates for 43023 (Granville) →

When it snows in Pataskala, Ohio

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Pataskala usually arrives around November 21, and the last of the season around March 29. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH, 10.8 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 20 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 43062

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Pataskala, Ohio
WhenWhat to do
February 7 – February 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 21 – March 7Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 21 – April 4Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 18 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 4Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 13Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 27 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 43062 is 11 miles from Columbus Port Columbus International Airport, OH, which stands at 810 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 43230 (Gahanna). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 43062 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 Ohio →

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 Ohio