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

Planting zone for 16145 — Sandy Lake, PA

ZIP code 16145 (Sandy Lake, Mercer County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 16145 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 2
First frostOct 23
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 Sandy Lake, 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 Sandy Lake, PA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Franklin, PA — 13 miles away, elevation 1,014 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 16145

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 16145 came on Mar 25 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 6a in Pennsylvania

598 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Pennsylvania, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 121

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 207

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 170

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °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 spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 9

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Sandy Lake, PA.

Soil in Sandy Lake, PA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 16145 is Chenango — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Chenango gravelly loam, moderately eroded, rolling.

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 16145; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sandy Lake, PA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights142nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,697base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall54 inper year; 56 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 18 °F 34°18° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 25 °F 46°25° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 24 °F 38°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.27 in precipitation, 17.9 in snowfall 3.3❄18 JanFebruary: 2.66 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 2.7❄12 FebMarch: 3.36 in precipitation, 8.9 in snowfall 3.4❄9 MarApril: 4.15 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 4.2❄1 AprMay: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 5.32 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.41 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 3.4❄3 NovDecember: 3.36 in precipitation, 11.7 in snowfall 3.4❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Franklin, PA (13 mi away); precipitation: Franklin, PA (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

161536a
Stoneboro, PA · 4 mi
161146a
Clarks Mills, PA · 6 mi
163116a
Carlton, PA · 6 mi
163626a
Utica, PA · 8 mi
161516a
Sheakleyville, PA · 8 mi
161336a
Jackson Center, PA · 8 mi
161306a
Hadley, PA · 9 mi
163426a
Polk, PA · 9 mi

Pennsylvania planting zones →

Questions about 16145

What planting zone is ZIP code 16145?

ZIP code 16145 (Sandy Lake, 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 Sandy Lake, PA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 16145 is May 2; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Franklin station.

When is the first frost in Sandy Lake, PA?

The median first fall frost near 16145 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 16145?

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

How much rain and snow does 16145 get?

About 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 54 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Franklin station).

How hot do summers get in Sandy Lake, PA?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 16145 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chenango at the center of ZIP 16145: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Sandy Lake, PA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 16145 came on Mar 25 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sandy Lake, PA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 16145 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 16145 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 16145 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.