Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 12945 — Lake Clear, NY

ZIP code 12945 (Lake Clear, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is June 2 and the first fall frost September 9.

Where ZIP 12945 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostJun 2
First frostSep 9
2012 zone4a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lake Clear, NY…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Lake Clear, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 9median — 10% chance by Aug 26
Growing season97 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 21 and returns around September 23.

From the NOAA station Saranac Regional Airport, NY — 6 miles away, elevation 1,663 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 12945

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 5 – May 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 12 – May 26
LettuceSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 9 – Jun 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 16 – Jun 30
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 9 – Jun 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 9 – Jun 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 9 – Jun 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 15 – Jul 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 26 – Sep 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 2) and first fall frost (Sep 9) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 12945 came on Apr 16 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 4a in New York

452 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 56

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 79

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 160

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 144

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Lake Clear, NY.

Soil in Lake Clear, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12945 is Tunbridge — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tunbridge-Lyman complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 12945; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lake Clear, NY

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights201nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,418base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 25 °F, low 2 °F 25°2° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 3 °F 28°3° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 12 °F 37°12° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 26 °F 50°26° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 49 °F 75°49° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 22 °F 42°22° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 11 °F 30°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 JanFebruary: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 FebMarch: 2.04 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Saranac Regional Airport, NY (6 mi away); precipitation: Saranac Regional Airport, NY (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

129834a
Saranac Lake, NY · 6 mi
129774a
Ray Brook, NY · 7 mi
129394a
Gabriels, NY · 9 mi
129704a
Paul Smiths, NY · 11 mi
129864a
Tupper Lake, NY · 11 mi
129464a
Lake Placid, NY · 12 mi
129764a
Rainbow Lake, NY · 13 mi
129134a
Bloomingdale, NY · 14 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12945

What planting zone is ZIP code 12945?

ZIP code 12945 (Lake Clear, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Lake Clear, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12945 is June 2; after June 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saranac Regional Airport station.

When is the first frost in Lake Clear, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12945 is September 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 97 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12945?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 7 – Apr 21 and set transplants outside around Jun 9 – Jun 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12945 get?

About 36.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saranac Regional Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Lake Clear, NY?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12945 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tunbridge at the center of ZIP 12945: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Lake Clear, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12945 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lake Clear, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12945 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).