Frost Dates for 44040 — Gates Mills, Ohio

Half of springs at Kirtland-Holden 2, OH see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 14 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 76% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 31 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 184 days in a typical year, longer than at 65% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 205 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 124 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 7, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 13 and March 15.

July is the warmest month at Kirtland-Holden 2, OH, averaging 82°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°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 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,913 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 84% of the 148 Ohio stations. 33% of them (957) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 682. Precipitation totals 48.2 inches a year, most in July (5.2") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Chardon, OH, 12 miles east of Gates Mills, has a last frost 9 days later (May 5), a first frost 13 days earlier (October 18), a season 20 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Gates Mills usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Chardon, OH, 11.9 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 44040 is 8 miles from Kirtland-Holden 2, OH, which stands at 1,030 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 44094 (Willoughby). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 44040 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.