Frost dates for Dunkirk, NY
At Dunkirk, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 30 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, for a typical growing season of 175 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 15. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7a.
- Apr 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 15Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 175 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 27 | May 11 | May 26 |
| 32°F | Apr 18 | Apr 30 | May 15 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | May 5 |
| 24°F | Mar 24 | Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
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 28 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | Oct 6 | Oct 23 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Oct 22 | Nov 8 | Nov 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 7 | Nov 21 | Dec 7 |
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 | 131 days | 152 days | 171 days |
| 32°F | 154 days | 175 days | 196 days |
| 28°F | 180 days | 201 days | 224 days |
| 24°F | 208 days | 228 days | 250 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14048 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 2 km |
| 14166 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 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 USC00302197, at 42.4717, -79.3336, elevation 192 m (631 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 5 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 125.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Fredonia (3 km)
- Dunkirk Chautauqua Airport (6 km)
- Portland1 SW (17 km)
- Perrysburg (27 km)
- Westfield 2 SSE (28 km)
- Jamestown 4 ENE (43 km)
- Little Valley (50 km)
- Colden 1w (55 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.