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Frost Depth in Pennsylvania: When the Ground Freezes

2 of 3 stations freeze at 2 inches in a typical winter.

Stations that typically freeze
2 of 3
Earliest typical freeze at 2 in
Jan 6
Latest typical thaw at 2 in
Feb 27

Station by station

When does the ground freeze in Pennsylvania?

Each bar runs from the typical first freeze to the typical last thaw at that depth, the median over the station's complete winters on record, with the typical number of frozen days after it. Frost reaches the deeper probes later in the winter. A depth that froze in fewer than half of its winters has no typical dates. Stations: 2 typically freeze, 1 froze in some winters.

Avondale 2 N

USCRN

Froze at 2 inches in 2 of 5 complete winters on record.

2 in
Each frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.

2 in: froze in 2 of 5 · 4 in: froze in 1 of 5 · 8 in: froze in 1 of 5 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 40 in: froze in 0 of 5

No current reading

Mahantango Ck

SCAN

Typically freezes to 4 inches, not to 8.

2 in
2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 15 to Feb 22, a median of 34 frozen days.34 days
4 in
4 inches: typically frozen from Jan 22 to Feb 17, a median of 7 frozen days.7 days
8 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Rock Springs Pa

SCAN

Typically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.

2 in
2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 6 to Feb 27, a median of 41 frozen days.41 days
4 inFroze in 2 of 5 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 1 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

A winter runs July to June. Our station readings come from one grass-covered site per station at five fixed depths, and often show shallower frost than regional figures.

More on frost depth

Where the ground is frozen today across the US · Pennsylvania soil temperature · First frost and frost depth guide