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

Planting zone for 15961 — Vintondale, PA

ZIP code 15961 (Vintondale, Cambria County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 15961 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 17
First frostOct 2
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Vintondale, 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 Vintondale, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Ebensburg Sewage Plt, PA — 11 miles away, elevation 1,939 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 15961

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 15961 came on Mar 16 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 6b in Pennsylvania

605 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 76

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 122

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 holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 209

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 173

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAtlantic mannagrass3 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Vintondale, PA.

Soil in Vintondale, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 15961 is Gilpin — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.9%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilpin-Weikert channery silt loams, 8 to 15 percent slopes.

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 15961; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Vintondale, PA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights157nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,143base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 17 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation48.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall80 inper year; 70 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 33 °F, low 16 °F 33°16° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 17 °F 36°17° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 22 °F 37°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.85 in precipitation, 24 in snowfall 3.9❄24 JanFebruary: 3.21 in precipitation, 19.3 in snowfall 3.2❄19 FebMarch: 3.98 in precipitation, 14.1 in snowfall 4.0❄14 MarApril: 4.35 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 4.3❄3 AprMay: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 4.02 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.55 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.5❄1 OctNovember: 3.63 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 3.6❄5 NovDecember: 4.02 in precipitation, 14.1 in snowfall 4.0❄14 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ebensburg Sewage Plt, PA (11 mi away); precipitation: Ebensburg Sewage Plt, PA (11 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.

159296b
Dilltown, PA · 4 mi
159546b
Seward, PA · 4 mi
159226a
Belsano, PA · 5 mi
159606a
Twin Rocks, PA · 5 mi
159206b
Armagh, PA · 5 mi
159096b
Johnstown, PA · 6 mi
159066b
Johnstown, PA · 6 mi
159436a
Nanty Glo, PA · 6 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 15961

What planting zone is ZIP code 15961?

ZIP code 15961 (Vintondale, PA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Vintondale, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 15961 is May 17; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ebensburg Sewage Plt station.

When is the first frost in Vintondale, PA?

The median first fall frost near 15961 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 15961?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 15961 get?

About 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 80 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ebensburg Sewage Plt station).

How hot do summers get in Vintondale, PA?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 15961 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Gilpin at the center of ZIP 15961: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Vintondale, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 15961 came on Mar 16 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Vintondale, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 15961 is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 15961 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 15961 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.