Frost dates for Shippensburg, PA
At Shippensburg, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 19 and the median first fall frost is Oct 24, for a typical growing season of 188 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 6. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 19Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 6Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 24First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 188 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 16 | Apr 30 | May 18 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 22 | Apr 5 | Apr 17 |
| 24°F | Mar 9 | Mar 25 | Apr 6 |
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 11 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | Oct 9 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Oct 21 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 |
| 24°F | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | Dec 4 |
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 | 142 days | 163 days | 183 days |
| 32°F | 166 days | 188 days | 207 days |
| 28°F | 194 days | 212 days | 232 days |
| 24°F | 217 days | 237 days | 260 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17257 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 2 km |
| 17266 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 10 km |
| 17240 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 17246 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 17244 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 17251 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 14 km |
| 17210 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 19 km |
| 17262 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 22 km |
| 17220 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 22 km |
| 17219 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 23 km |
| 17217 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 26 km |
| 17239 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 28 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 USC00368073, at 40.0592, -77.5214, elevation 207 m (680 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 111.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Chambersburg 1 ESE (17 km)
- S Mountain (23 km)
- Cashtown 1s (25 km)
- Bloserville 1 N (26 km)
- Biglerville (27 km)
- Carlisle Water Plant (34 km)
- Eisenhower Nhs (38 km)
- Hanover 4 SW (53 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.