Frost Dates for 01240 — Lenox, Massachusetts

Half of springs at Lenox Dale, MA see their last 32°F night by May 7; only one in ten is past it by April 26, and one in ten still has one after May 21. Planting tender crops after May 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 21 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 51% of the 71 Massachusetts stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 3 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 11, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 147 days in a typical year, shorter than at 96% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 164 days one year in ten and falls short of 128 one year in ten. On average 166 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 13 days longer, to about May 20, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 26.

July is the warmest month at Lenox Dale, MA, averaging 82°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 13°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 75% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,253 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 31% of them (700) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 603.

The nearest other station, Pittsfield Municipal Airport, MA, 5 miles north of Lenox and 190 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days earlier (May 5), a first frost 2 days later (October 5), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lenox usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lenox Dale, MA, 2.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 27 days after the last snow.

ZIP 01240 is 2 miles from Lenox Dale, MA, which stands at 1,004 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 01230 (Great Barrington). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 01240 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.