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

Planting zone for 12946 — Lake Placid, NY

ZIP code 12946 (Lake Placid, Essex County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost September 24.

Where ZIP 12946 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 frostMay 21
First frostSep 24
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 Placid, 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 Placid, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 24median — 10% chance by Sep 7
Growing season123 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 8 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Ray Brook, NY — 7 miles away, elevation 1,621 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 12946

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 4 – Jun 18
BeansSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 30 – Aug 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 10 – Oct 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 21) and first fall frost (Sep 24) 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 12946 came on Apr 17 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29).

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).

Soil in Lake Placid, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12946 is Rawsonville — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rawsonville-Hogback complex, 15 to 35 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 12946; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lake Placid, NY

Summer high74 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights192nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,440base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation43.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall104 inper year; 124 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 23 °F, low 5 °F 23°5° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 5 °F 26°5° FebMarch: average high 34 °F, low 14 °F 34°14° MarApril: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 39 °F 61°39° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° JunJuly: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° JulAugust: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° AugSeptember: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° SepOctober: average high 52 °F, low 36 °F 52°36° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 26 °F 40°26° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 15 °F 27°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.10 in precipitation, 21 in snowfall 3.1❄21 JanFebruary: 2.29 in precipitation, 21 in snowfall 2.3❄21 FebMarch: 2.89 in precipitation, 18.9 in snowfall 2.9❄19 MarApril: 3.39 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 3.4❄8 AprMay: 3.93 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.9❄1 MayJune: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 4.23 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 4.2❄3 OctNovember: 3.40 in precipitation, 9.6 in snowfall 3.4❄10 NovDecember: 3.50 in precipitation, 22.7 in snowfall 3.5❄23 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ray Brook, NY (7 mi away); precipitation: Lake Placid 2 S, NY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

129774a
Ray Brook, NY · 7 mi
129434a
Keene Valley, NY · 10 mi
129834a
Saranac Lake, NY · 11 mi
129454a
Lake Clear, NY · 12 mi
129424b
Keene, NY · 13 mi
129974b
Wilmington, NY · 14 mi
129134a
Bloomingdale, NY · 16 mi
128524b
Newcomb, NY · 16 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12946

What planting zone is ZIP code 12946?

ZIP code 12946 (Lake Placid, 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 Placid, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12946 is May 21; after June 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ray Brook station.

When is the first frost in Lake Placid, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12946 is September 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 123 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12946?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 26 – Apr 9 and set transplants outside around May 28 – Jun 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 12946 get?

About 43.8 inches of precipitation a year and 104 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Placid 2 S station).

How hot do summers get in Lake Placid, NY?

The average high peaks at 74 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 12946 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rawsonville at the center of ZIP 12946: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

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

Spring leaf-out near 12946 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lake Placid, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12946 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).