Frost Dates for 43554 — Pioneer, Ohio

Half of springs at Montpelier, OH see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 12 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 93% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 18 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 13 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 173 days in a typical year, shorter than at 75% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 193 days one year in ten and falls short of 151 one year in ten. On average 145 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 9 days longer, to about May 7, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 15.

July is the warmest month at Montpelier, OH, averaging 83°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 17°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 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,876 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 87% of the 148 Ohio stations. 34% of them (972) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 696. Precipitation totals 37.9 inches a year, most in May (4.3") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Bryan 2 SE, OH, 14 miles south of Pioneer, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 26), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 17), a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Pioneer usually arrives around November 25, and the last of the season around March 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Montpelier, OH, 6 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 37 days after the last snow.

ZIP 43554 is 6 miles from Montpelier, OH, which stands at 860 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 43543 (Montpelier). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 43554 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.