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

Planting zone for 12977 — Ray Brook, NY

ZIP code 12977 (Ray Brook, 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 12977 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 Ray Brook, 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 Ray Brook, 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 — within 1 mile, 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 12977

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 12977 came on Apr 16 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26).

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 Ray Brook, NY.

Soil in Ray Brook, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12977 is Monadnock — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Monadnock fine sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, 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 12977; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ray Brook, 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 51 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 (within 1 mile); precipitation: Lake Placid 2 S, NY (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

129834a
Saranac Lake, NY · 4 mi
129464a
Lake Placid, NY · 7 mi
129454a
Lake Clear, NY · 7 mi
129394a
Gabriels, NY · 10 mi
129134a
Bloomingdale, NY · 10 mi
129974b
Wilmington, NY · 12 mi
129424b
Keene, NY · 15 mi
129704a
Paul Smiths, NY · 16 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 12977

What planting zone is ZIP code 12977?

ZIP code 12977 (Ray Brook, 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 Ray Brook, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 12977 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 Ray Brook, NY?

The median first fall frost near 12977 is September 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 123 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 12977?

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 12977 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 Ray Brook, 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 12977 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Monadnock at the center of ZIP 12977: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Ray Brook, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 12977 came on Apr 16 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ray Brook, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 12977 is 15 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).