U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00004725 · New York

Frost Dates for Binghamton, NY

NOAA weather station Binghamton (USW00004725), New York · elevation 1606 ft (490 m) · hardiness zone 6a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 18only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMay 250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1150% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season162 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Binghamton, NYSpring: a frost after April 19 in 9 years out of 10, after May 2 in half of the years, after May 18 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 28 in 1 year out of 10, before October 11 in half of the years, before October 29 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 162 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~May 2First frost ~Oct 11Frost season at Binghamton, NYSpring: a frost after April 19 in 9 years out of 10, after May 2 in half of the years, after May 18 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 28 in 1 year out of 10, before October 11 in half of the years, before October 29 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 162 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~May 2First frost ~Oct 11
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.Today

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 18September 28
50% (typical)May 2October 11
90% (likely)April 19October 29
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
162 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 22
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 26

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost May 1 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 19 (8 days later). Frost-free season 169 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 Binghamton: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 18, 20% May 11, 30% May 7, 40% May 4, 50% May 2, 60% April 30, 70% April 26, 80% April 23, 90% April 19. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 1, 2022 April 29, 2023 May 18, 2024 April 26, 2025 April 17, 2026 May 12.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1Jun 1May 18May 2Apr 192021: May 12022: April 292023: May 182024: April 262025: April 172026: May 12Fall at Binghamton: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 28, 20% October 2, 30% October 5, 40% October 7, 50% October 11, 60% October 14, 70% October 17, 80% October 23, 90% October 29. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 2, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 31, 2024 October 25, 2025 October 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Sep 28Oct 11Oct 292021: November 22022: October 182023: October 312024: October 252025: October 10
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 1November 2
2022April 29October 18
2023May 18October 31
2024April 26October 25
2025April 17October 10
2026May 12season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 162 days between the 32°F 50% dates in Binghamton frame the interval when a light frost is no more likely than not. The 50% spring date is May 2 and the 50% fall date is October 11, marking the midpoint of frost risk for tender crops. The median hard-frost dates are April 22 in spring and October 26 in fall, indicating when temperatures reach the 28°F threshold.

For a cautious planting plan, the spring light-frost date of May 18 carries only a 10 % chance of frost later, while the fall cautious date of September 28 carries only a 10 % chance of frost earlier. A hard frost at 28°F can damage plants more severely than a light frost at 32°F because it reaches a lower temperature threshold.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 18" 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 28" 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 Binghamton, NYNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Ithaca, NY — 29 mi; 2 — Norwich, NY — 32 mi; 3 — Towanda, PA — 39 mi; 4 — Sherburne, NY — 41 mi; 5 — Pleasant Mount, PA — 42 mi.NY25 mi · 40 km1. near Ithaca, NY — 29 mi12. Norwich, NY — 32 mi23. Towanda, PA — 39 mi34. Sherburne, NY — 41 mi45. Pleasant Mount, PA — 42 mi5
  1. near Ithaca, NY 29 mi (47 km)
  2. Norwich, NY 32 mi (52 km)
  3. Towanda, PA 39 mi (63 km)
  4. Sherburne, NY 41 mi (66 km)
  5. Pleasant Mount, PA 42 mi (68 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 6a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 42.1997, -75.985.