U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00305113 · New York

Frost Dates for Emmons, NY

NOAA weather station Emmons (USC00305113), New York · elevation 1225 ft (373 m) · hardiness zone 5b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 30only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMay 1750% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season141 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone5bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Emmons, NYSpring: a frost after April 30 in 9 years out of 10, after May 17 in half of the years, after May 30 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 20 in 1 year out of 10, before October 3 in half of the years, before October 18 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 141 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~May 17First frost ~Oct 3Frost season at Emmons, NYSpring: a frost after April 30 in 9 years out of 10, after May 17 in half of the years, after May 30 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 20 in 1 year out of 10, before October 3 in half of the years, before October 18 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 141 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~May 17First frost ~Oct 3
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 30September 20
50% (typical)May 17October 3
90% (likely)April 30October 18
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
141 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
May 4
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 16

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost May 12 (5 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 6 (3 days later). Frost-free season 144 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Emmons: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 30, 20% May 26, 30% May 23, 40% May 19, 50% May 17, 60% May 13, 70% May 10, 80% May 6, 90% April 30. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 14.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1Jun 1May 30May 17Apr 302021: May 14Fall at Emmons: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 20, 20% September 24, 30% September 28, 40% October 1, 50% October 3, 60% October 5, 70% October 7, 80% October 12, 90% October 18. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 23.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Sep 20Oct 3Oct 182021: October 23
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021May 14October 23
2022incomplete recordno data
2023no datano data
2024no datano data
2025no datano data
2026no dataseason not over yet

What these dates mean

There are 141 days between the 32°F 50% dates of May 17 and October 3, and those days define the period in which a gardener in Emmons can generally expect an even chance of light frost. A 50% date indicates a 50% probability that a light frost will occur later than that date in spring or earlier than that date in fall.

For a cautious plan, tender crops are set out after the spring cautious date of May 30, which carries only a 10% chance of a later frost, and they are finished before the fall cautious date of September 20, which carries only a 10% chance of an earlier frost. The 50% hard-frost dates are May 4 and October 16, and a hard frost at 28°F can damage plants more severely than a light frost at 32°F.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 30" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before September 20" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Emmons, NYNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Cooperstown, NY — 18 mi; 2 — Norwich, NY — 26 mi; 3 — Lansing Manor, NY — 28 mi; 4 — Sherburne, NY — 29 mi; 5 — Cobleskill, NY — 32 mi.NY25 mi · 40 km1. Cooperstown, NY — 18 mi12. Norwich, NY — 26 mi23. Lansing Manor, NY — 28 mi34. Sherburne, NY — 29 mi45. Cobleskill, NY — 32 mi5
  1. Cooperstown, NY 18 mi (28 km)
  2. Norwich, NY 26 mi (42 km)
  3. Lansing Manor, NY 28 mi (45 km)
  4. Sherburne, NY 29 mi (47 km)
  5. Cobleskill, NY 32 mi (51 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 5b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 42.4694, -75.0106.