I am questioning how realistic those Zones are.

I moved up 30 miles north in same state. Am about 3 weeks different from friend's garden timeframe in Chicago and prior it was more less even, maybe a week difference and I think it was mainly due to city plus lake Michigan distance.

No change for me. Still 9b

-Babka

I'm back to 8b, same as I was before the last change.

bk

I went from 5 to 6 but I think microclimate has a large impact on things

same here, debra. Apparently I'm now a 6a. Maybe so, but I will continue to err on the side of caution and stick with plants hardy for zone 5.

I went from 6b to 7a.

Seems like only yesterday, I was 6B, now, I am 7B.

Friend of mine sent these pics today from Manhattan, NYC used to be 7a/b, so maybe with the urban heat island they are now pushing 8.

Yes, with the urban heat island, we definitely get warmer than the outlying areas. I'm in DFW.

bkay

I’m posting to both map threads: I’m colder now! Last map had me at 6a and now I’m 5b. As you can see from my GW ”handle”, I always planned for 5 anyway. Back when I was a 6a, I’d say if I was a better spitter I could spit into 5b it was so close. I guess I have to change my GW handle.

Approximately where in Maine are you? That does not make sense, if that if the official status.

Woohoo! I always thought z7 would be the perfect zone for gardening. I got my wish!

Although, I don’t believe it. I’m now 7a?!? I am skeptical any z7 plants will make it through our winter.

Does it say how many years were looked at to update our averages?

If it is a valid update, it must be an average of minimums for a period of 30 years.

Thirty years seems reasonable. Until this year, my area has been in extreme drought conditions for the past several years, so I was wondering how it was measured. If it's more like thirty years they're looking at, it would be more valid. But I'm still doubtful we're all the way to z7! Time will tell.

Adding that IF in less than 30 years we've gone from 5a to 7a, that's alarming! But I'm trying to see a bright side.

There was some kind of software glitch and I could not log in as Esther-B, zone 7a. I am still Esther, no worries!

41North I was wrong. Initially I searched by zip code and got a colder zone, but later I zoomed in on the map. Large majority of my zip code is 5b but i am still in a 6a strip. Indeed, I still need to acquire better spitting skills in order to spit from my 6a into 5b. And, I will continue to plan for 5. Mother nature has not received this map yet and misbehaves accordingly.