Frost dates for Buffalo, NY
At Buffalo, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 24 and the median first fall frost is Oct 26, for a typical growing season of 183 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 6b.
- Apr 24Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 183 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 | Apr 22 | May 4 | May 19 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Apr 24 | May 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 1 | Apr 13 | Apr 27 |
| 24°F | Mar 19 | Apr 3 | Apr 17 |
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 30 | Oct 13 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | Oct 10 | Oct 26 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Oct 25 | Nov 6 | Nov 22 |
| 24°F | Nov 5 | Nov 19 | Dec 5 |
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 | 140 days | 160 days | 179 days |
| 32°F | 163 days | 183 days | 202 days |
| 28°F | 188 days | 208 days | 228 days |
| 24°F | 210 days | 230 days | 251 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14225 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 2 km |
| 14026 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 4 km |
| 14221 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 4 km |
| 14226 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 6 km |
| 14043 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 6 km |
| 14215 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 6 km |
| 14261 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 14227 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 14260 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 14211 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 14214 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 9 km |
| 14212 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 9 km |
| 14223 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 9 km |
| 14206 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 10 km |
| 14086 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 10 km |
| 14208 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 10 km |
| 14216 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 10 km |
| 14031 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 11 km |
| 14051 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 14209 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 14222 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 12 km |
| 14210 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 12 km |
| 14224 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 12 km |
| 14204 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 13 km |
| 14213 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 13 km |
| 14220 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 13 km |
| 14201 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 14 km |
| 14202 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 14 km |
| 14032 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 14 km |
| 14203 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 14 km |
| 14218 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 16 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 USW00014733, at 42.9486, -78.7369, elevation 211 m (693 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 124.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- N Tonawanda (16 km)
- Niagara Falls (24 km)
- Niagara Falls Intl Airport (24 km)
- Wales (26 km)
- Lockport 4e (29 km)
- Colden 1 N (32 km)
- Colden 1w (34 km)
- Youngstown 2 E (40 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.