State guides · Pennsylvania · Climate by town
Lancaster, PA rainfall, snowfall and frost dates
Thirty-year averages for Lancaster from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals: rain and snow by month, the last and first freeze, the growing season, and a frost check for any date.
Lancaster averages 44.15 in. of precipitation and 21.4 in. of snow a year. The median last spring freeze (32°F) is April 19 and the median first fall freeze is Oct. 24, a growing season of about 186 days. From NOAA’s Lancaster 2NE Filter Plant station; checked Nov. 13, 2026.
Is it safe to plant in Lancaster yet?
Dates from January through July check the last spring freeze. Dates from August on check the first fall freeze.
From NOAA’s freeze probabilities for this station. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring and earlier in fall than the station.
Lancaster frost dates
| 32°F freeze | 9 in 10 years | 1 in 2 years | 1 in 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring freeze comes after | April 5 | April 19 | May 7 |
| First fall freeze comes before | Nov. 6 | Oct. 24 | Oct. 9 |
Hard freeze (28°F): the median last one in spring is April 5 and the median first one in fall is Nov. 4. The growing season between the median 32°F freezes, April 19 to Oct. 24, runs about 186 days.
Planting tender plants after May 7 means a freeze afterward in only about 1 year in 10. Planting on April 19 leaves even odds. For lawn seeding windows, see our Pennsylvania grass seed guide.
Lancaster rain and snow by month
| Month | Precipitation (in.) | Snow (in.) | Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.01 | 6.1 | 39.9 | 22.2 |
| February | 2.52 | 7.4 | 42.8 | 23.6 |
| March | 3.50 | 3.4 | 52.0 | 30.9 |
| April | 3.54 | 0.2 | 64.6 | 40.5 |
| May | 3.65 | 0.0 | 74.5 | 50.4 |
| June | 4.09 | 0.0 | 82.7 | 59.7 |
| July | 4.51 | 0.0 | 87.0 | 64.7 |
| August | 3.60 | 0.0 | 85.1 | 63.0 |
| September | 4.82 | 0.0 | 78.2 | 55.6 |
| October | 4.18 | 0.3 | 66.4 | 43.7 |
| November | 3.26 | 0.6 | 54.8 | 34.0 |
| December | 3.47 | 3.4 | 44.4 | 27.1 |
| Year | 44.15 | 21.4 | Average 53.7°F | |
Precipitation is rain plus the water in melted snow and ice. Snow is the depth of new snowfall. Monthly figures are NOAA’s normals and may not add exactly to the yearly totals because of rounding.
- Wettest month: September, 4.82 in. Driest: February, 2.52 in.
- Snowiest month: February, 7.4 in. Months averaging 1 in. or more: December through March. December through February bring about 79% of the year’s snow.
- Average lows at or below 32°F: December through March.
- Coldest nights: January, average low 22.2°F. Warmest days: July, average high 87.0°F.
Planning outdoor work in Lancaster
Average lows sit at or below freezing from December through March, so plan base work, planting and seeding around the frost dates above. Frost depth and ground snow load for footings and roofs are set by your town; our design criteria by ZIP tool shows who sets them for your address. For planting beds, start with a soil test.
Towns near Lancaster
| Town | Miles | Precip. (in.) | Snow (in.) | Median last freeze | Median first freeze |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landisville | 9 | 45.17 | 23.2 | April 30 | Oct. 10 |
| New Holland | 11 | 46.84 | 33.5 | April 14 | Nov. 1 |
| Lebanon | 22 | 46.40 | 24.0 | April 20 | Oct. 25 |
| Coatesville | 22 | 52.12 | 31.9 | April 19 | Oct. 25 |
| York | 27 | 46.46 | 24.6 | April 26 | Oct. 19 |
| Middletown | 28 | 44.23 | 29.9 | April 9 | Nov. 2 |
Miles are straight-line distances between NOAA stations. See every town on our Pennsylvania rainfall and snowfall by town chart.
Questions
How much snow does Lancaster, PA get a year?
Lancaster averages 21.4 in. of snow a year, per NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for its Lancaster 2NE Filter Plant station. The snowiest month is February, at 7.4 in.
How much rain does Lancaster, PA get a year?
Lancaster averages 44.15 in. of precipitation a year, counting rain and melted snow. The wettest month is September, at 4.82 in.
When is the last frost in Lancaster, PA?
The median last 32°F freeze in Lancaster is April 19. In 1 year in 10 it comes after May 7, and in 9 years in 10 after April 5.
When is the first frost in Lancaster, PA?
The median first 32°F freeze in Lancaster is Oct. 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes before Oct. 9, and in 9 years in 10 before Nov. 6.
How long is the growing season in Lancaster?
About 186 days between the median last and first 32°F freezes, April 19 to Oct. 24.
What is the coldest month in Lancaster?
January, with an average low of 22.2°F and an average high of 39.9°F.
About this data
Station: NOAA’s Lancaster 2NE Filter Plant station (GHCN USC00364763), about 2 miles northeast of Lancaster, elevation 270 ft, 40.050° N, 76.274° W. These are NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, 30-year averages that NOAA recomputes every 10 years. NOAA rates this station’s precipitation normals standard, its snow normals provisional and its temperature and freeze normals standard. Standard means at least 24 years of data, with missing months filled from nearby stations. Provisional means at least 10 years of data, with gaps NOAA could not fill from nearby stations.
Your yard can differ from the station. Elevation, valleys and hillsides change how much snow falls and when the first and last freezes come.
Sources: NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals; annual and seasonal normals for USC00364763; monthly normals for USC00364763; NOAA normals file documentation. Checked Nov. 13, 2026.
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See landscape designAll Pennsylvania townsAlso: Pennsylvania grass seed guide, soil testing, design criteria by ZIP.
Muthler Landscaping & Construction LLC · 913 Bellefonte Ave, Lock Haven, PA 17745 · (570) 397-9800 · PA HIC #PA212584. Climate data from NOAA; not a forecast.
Using this guide? Link to it or cite it. It's free to use with a link back, and we keep it updated against official sources.
Cite as: Muthler Landscaping & Construction, “Lancaster, PA Rainfall, Snowfall and Frost Dates,” https://muthlerlandscaping.com/state-guides/pennsylvania/climate/lancaster/ (last checked November 13, 2026).
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