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

Planting zone for 15565 — West Salisbury, PA

ZIP code 15565 (West Salisbury, Somerset County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 15565 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 12
First frostOct 5
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for West Salisbury, PA…

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 West Salisbury, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season146 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Meyersdale 2 Ssw, PA — 4 miles away, elevation 2,001 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 15565

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 15565 came on Mar 15 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 West Salisbury, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15565 is Atkins — slightly decomposed plant material, poorly drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Atkins silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 15565; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Salisbury, PA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,195base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation41.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall46 inper year; 58 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 17 °F 34°17° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 17 °F 38°17° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.01 in precipitation, 12.9 in snowfall 3.0❄13 JanFebruary: 2.70 in precipitation, 11.4 in snowfall 2.7❄11 FebMarch: 3.65 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 3.6❄10 MarApril: 3.53 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.5❄1 AprMay: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.98 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.0❄1 OctNovember: 2.66 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 2.7❄3 NovDecember: 3.06 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 3.1❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Meyersdale 2 Ssw, PA (4 mi away); precipitation: Meyersdale 2 Ssw, PA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

155626a
Springs, PA · 1 mi
155586a
Salisbury, PA · 2 mi
155326a
Boynton, PA · 3 mi
155406a
Fort Hill, PA · 7 mi
155526a
Meyersdale, PA · 7 mi
215366a
Grantsville, MD · 8 mi
155426a
Garrett, PA · 8 mi
215326a
Frostburg, MD · 10 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15565

What planting zone is ZIP code 15565?

ZIP code 15565 (West Salisbury, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in West Salisbury, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15565 is May 12; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Meyersdale 2 Ssw station.

When is the first frost in West Salisbury, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15565 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 146 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15565?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 15565 get?

About 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 46 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Meyersdale 2 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in West Salisbury, PA?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15565 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Atkins at the center of ZIP 15565: slightly decomposed plant material, poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in West Salisbury, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15565 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in West Salisbury, PA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 15565 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 15565 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 15565 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.