Frost dates for Elmira, NY
At Elmira, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 6 and the median first fall frost is Oct 11, for a typical growing season of 158 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 21. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- May 6Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 21Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 11First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 158 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
USDA hardiness zone 6a (-10 to -5°F) · see all zone 6a frost dates
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 3 | May 18 | May 31 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | May 6 | May 21 |
| 28°F | Apr 12 | Apr 25 | May 9 |
| 24°F | Apr 1 | Apr 13 | Apr 26 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | Sep 29 | Oct 11 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F | Oct 7 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 24°F | Oct 23 | Nov 6 | Nov 20 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 118 days | 136 days | 154 days |
| 32°F | 139 days | 158 days | 178 days |
| 28°F | 161 days | 181 days | 202 days |
| 24°F | 186 days | 208 days | 227 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14905 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 1 km |
| 14904 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 km |
| 14903 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 4 km |
| 14901 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 8 km |
| 14871 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 9 km |
| 14894 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 10 km |
| 14861 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 12 km |
| 16925 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 17 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00302610, at 42.0997, -76.8358, elevation 289 m (947 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 150.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Elmira Corning Regional Airport (8 km)
- Corning (20 km)
- Waverly (28 km)
- Addison (33 km)
- Spencer 1 NE (33 km)
- Mecklenburg 4SW (39 km)
- Ithaca Cornell Univ (50 km)
- Bath (50 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.