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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 44107 — Lakewood, Ohio

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Cleveland, OH (763 ft), 6 miles southwest.

Updated

In Lakewood, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 20 in half of years and has passed by May 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 3, as early as October 21 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 198 days (NOAA, Cleveland, OH).

Last spring frost
April 20

50% probability

First fall frost
November 3

50% probability

Growing season
198 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

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

First snow
November 10

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 9

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
63.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Lakewood

Half of springs at Cleveland, OH see their last 32°F night by April 20; 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 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 77% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 3 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 13; 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 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 96% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 217 days one year in ten and falls short of 175 one year in ten. On average 111 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 April 30, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 17 and March 7.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Cleveland, 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 44107 →Compare Lakewood with another place →

Weather by month in Lakewood

July is the warmest month at Cleveland, OH, averaging 84°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°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 3,360 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 64% of the 148 Ohio stations. 34% of them (1,141) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 759. Precipitation totals 41.2 inches a year, most in September (3.9") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cleveland, OH
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan36223.0100%264
Feb39242.5100%246
Mar47313.1100%2033
Apr60413.893%6127
May71513.817%<1358
Jun80613.80%0614
Jul84653.70%0759
Aug82643.60%0711
Sep76573.90%0491
Oct64473.636%1200
Nov51373.499%1248
Dec40283.0100%228

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cleveland, OH (763 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, Cleveland Burke Airport, OH, 7 miles northeast of Lakewood and 179 feet lower, has a last frost 12 days earlier (April 8), a first frost 9 days later (November 12), a season 19 days longer.

Frost dates for 44118 (Cleveland Heights) →

When it snows in Lakewood, Ohio

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lakewood usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cleveland, OH, 5.6 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 11 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 44107

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Lakewood, Ohio
WhenWhat to do
February 9 – February 23Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 23 – March 9Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 23 – April 6Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 20 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 11Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 20Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 3 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 44107 is 6 miles from Cleveland, OH, which stands at 763 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 21 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 44107 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 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 7a places in Ohio