Frost dates for State College, PA
At State College, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 20 and the median first fall frost is Oct 26, for a typical growing season of 187 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 6. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 20Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 6Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 187 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 18 | May 1 | May 18 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Apr 20 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 26 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 |
| 24°F | Mar 14 | Mar 30 | Apr 9 |
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 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | Oct 10 | Oct 26 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Oct 23 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 |
| 24°F | Nov 3 | 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 | 165 days | 185 days |
| 32°F | 165 days | 187 days | 207 days |
| 28°F | 190 days | 211 days | 230 days |
| 24°F | 215 days | 234 days | 256 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16802 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 1 km |
| 16801 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 2 km |
| 16803 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 3 km |
| 16851 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 6 km |
| 16868 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 16827 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 16865 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 16835 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 13 km |
| 16844 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 14 km |
| 16828 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 14 km |
| 16870 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 15 km |
| 16669 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 16 km |
| 16853 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 18 km |
| 16823 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 18 km |
| 16877 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 18 km |
| 16683 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 22 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 USC00368449, at 40.7933, -77.8672, elevation 357 m (1,170 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 122.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Clarence (29 km)
- Philipsburg 2 S (31 km)
- Lewistown (34 km)
- Millheim (35 km)
- Raystown Lake 2 (49 km)
- Raystown HQ (49 km)
- Lock Haven Sewage Plant (52 km)
- Clearfield Lawrence Airport (54 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.