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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 44514 — Youngstown, Ohio

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from New Castle 1 N, PA (825 ft), 13 miles east.

Updated

In Youngstown, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 30 in half of years and has passed by May 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 23, as early as October 6 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 175 days (NOAA, New Castle 1 N, PA).

Last spring frost
April 30

50% probability

First fall frost
October 23

50% probability

Growing season
175 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
December 4

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 18

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
96%

27 of 28 observed

Snow per year
27.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Youngstown

Half of springs at New Castle 1 N, PA see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 19 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 68% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 193 days one year in ten and falls short of 153 one year in ten. On average 134 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 11, and return around October 9. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and March 15.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at New Castle 1 N, PA, 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 44514 →Compare Youngstown with another place →

Weather by month in Youngstown

July is the warmest month at New Castle 1 N, PA, averaging 86°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°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 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,088 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 70% of the 148 Ohio stations. 33% of them (1,025) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 718. Precipitation totals 42.0 inches a year, most in July (4.6") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 50% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New Castle 1 N, PA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan37192.9100%272
Feb40202.2100%252
Mar49273.1100%2325
Apr63363.7100%12107
May73473.948%1324
Jun82564.50%0564
Jul86604.60%0718
Aug85593.90%0677
Sep79523.92%<1463
Oct66413.278%5169
Nov53323.0100%1731
Dec42253.1100%245

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New Castle 1 N, PA (825 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, Warren 3 S, OH, 16 miles northwest of Youngstown, has a last frost 8 days later (May 8), a first frost 11 days earlier (October 12), a season 18 days shorter.

Frost dates for 44512 (Boardman) →

When it snows in Youngstown, Ohio

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Youngstown usually arrives around December 4, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at New Castle 1 N, PA, 13.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 43 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 44514

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Youngstown, Ohio
WhenWhat to do
February 19 – March 5Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 5 – March 19Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 2 – April 16Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 30 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 31Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 9Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 23 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 44514 is 13 miles from New Castle 1 N, PA, which stands at 825 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 11 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 16101 (New Castle). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 44514 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