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Frost Dates in New York
First and last frost dates across New York, computed from 83 NOAA weather stations (1991–2020 climate normals). Your exact date depends on your city and microclimate — use the ZIP lookup on the main tool for a station-specific answer.
Last spring frost
May 6
statewide median · range Mar 26–May 27
First fall frost
Oct 10
statewide median · range Sep 22–Nov 25
Growing season
157 days
median · range 118–244
Stations used
83
NOAA 1991–2020 normals
Frost dates by city
Median dates from the nearest NOAA station to each city. The "cautious" date is the 10% spring value — planting after it means only a ~10% chance of a later frost.
| City | Nearest station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Growing season | Safe transplant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | Ny City Cntrl Park · 5 mi | Mar 30 (cautious: Apr 9) | Nov 20 | 236 days | Apr 13 |
| Buffalo | Buffalo · 8 mi | Apr 24 (cautious: May 9) | Oct 26 | 183 days | May 8 |
| Rochester | Rochester Gtr Intl · 4 mi | Apr 24 (cautious: May 8) | Oct 25 | 181 days | May 8 |
| Albany | Albany Intl Ap · 7 mi | Apr 27 (cautious: May 11) | Oct 15 | 169 days | May 11 |
| Syracuse | Syracuse Hancock Intl Ap · 5 mi | Apr 29 (cautious: May 13) | Oct 19 | 173 days | May 13 |
How frost varies across New York
Spring frost timing spans about 62 days across the state. Laguardia in southeastern New York typically sees its last spring frost around March 26, while Lake Placid in northeastern New York doesn't clear frost until about May 27. Within any city, low spots and valleys run colder than the station average; areas near buildings and pavement run warmer.
When to plant in New York
As a rule of thumb, cool-season crops (lettuce, peas, spinach) can go in 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost; warm-season transplants (tomatoes, peppers) should wait about 2 weeks after it — around May 20 for the statewide median. Check your city's row above rather than the statewide median: a 62-day statewide spread makes the city-level date the one that matters.
These are climate normals (what's typical), not forecasts. For the current year, watch the 10-day forecast around your planting date.
How this is computed
Statewide medians are the median of the 83 NOAA stations' median frost dates — half the stations run earlier, half later. City rows use the nearest station with 30-year freeze records. Dates are 32°F freeze probabilities from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals; nothing is estimated or interpolated.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost date in New York?
The statewide median last spring frost is May 6, but it ranges from March 26 to May 27 depending on where in the state you are. Use your city's row in the table above, or the ZIP lookup on the main tool, for a station-specific date.
When can I plant tomatoes outside in New York?
Warm-season transplants like tomatoes should wait about two weeks after your last spring frost — around May 20 for the statewide median. Your city may differ by weeks; check the "safe transplant" column in the city table.
How long is the growing season in New York?
The median growing season across 83 NOAA stations is 157 days, ranging from 118 to 244 days by location.
Why do frost dates vary so much within New York?
Frost timing follows latitude, elevation, and local terrain. Across New York, last spring frost dates span about 62 days — from around March 26 near Laguardia to May 27 near Lake Placid. Microclimates (low spots, valleys, urban heat) shift dates further at the garden level.
Where does this data come from?
All frost dates are computed from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals freeze data (public domain), using each station's 32°F freeze probability statistics. No dates are estimated or interpolated.