Frost dates for Ithaca Cornell Univ, NY
At Ithaca Cornell Univ, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 11 and the median first fall frost is Oct 3, for a typical growing season of 145 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 26. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- May 11Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 26Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 3First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 145 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
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 8 | May 24 | Jun 6 |
| 32°F | Apr 27 | May 11 | May 26 |
| 28°F | Apr 17 | Apr 30 | May 16 |
| 24°F | Apr 4 | Apr 18 | May 2 |
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 10 | Sep 23 | Oct 6 |
| 32°F | Sep 21 | Oct 3 | Oct 21 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 18 | Nov 4 |
| 24°F | Oct 13 | Nov 2 | Nov 17 |
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 | 102 days | 122 days | 141 days |
| 32°F | 125 days | 145 days | 164 days |
| 28°F | 146 days | 169 days | 191 days |
| 24°F | 174 days | 198 days | 218 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14853 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 3 km |
| 14850 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 5 km |
| 14881 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 9 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 USC00304174, at 42.4492, -76.4492, elevation 293 m (960 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 148.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Freeville 1 NE (12 km)
- Ithaca 13 E (17 km)
- Mecklenburg 4sw (25 km)
- Spencer 1 NE (26 km)
- Aurora Rsch Farm (36 km)
- Whitney Point Dam (41 km)
- Tully Heiberg Forest (46 km)
- Binghamton (47 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.