Frost Dates for 45831 — Continental, Ohio

Half of springs at Defiance, OH see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 3 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 53% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 24 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 27, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 183 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 202 days one year in ten and falls short of 162 one year in ten. On average 127 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 May 2, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Defiance, OH, averaging 85°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 18°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 26% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,148 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 61% of the 148 Ohio stations. 34% of them (1,075) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 741. Precipitation totals 38.0 inches a year, most in May (4.3") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Paulding, OH, 18 miles west of Continental, has a last frost 3 days later (April 25), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 19), a season 8 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Continental usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Defiance, OH, 13.8 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 45831 is 14 miles from Defiance, OH, which stands at 700 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 43512 (Defiance). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 45831 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.