Frost Dates for 44116 — Rocky River, Ohio

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Cleveland Burke Airport, OH, 9 miles east of Rocky River 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.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rocky River 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, 4.4 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.

ZIP 44116 is 4 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; its figures are presented in full for 44107 (Lakewood). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 44116 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.