Frost Dates for 01908 — Nahant, Massachusetts

Half of springs at Marblehead, MA see their last 32°F night by April 25; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 97% of the 71 Massachusetts stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 20 in half of years, as early as October 5 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 27, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 176 days in a typical year, longer than at 62% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 157 one year in ten. On average 108 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 14 days longer, to about May 9, and return around October 9. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 13.

July is the warmest month at Marblehead, MA, averaging 80°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 18°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 34% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,421 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 82% of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 27% of them (664) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 636. Precipitation totals 48.2 inches a year, most in October (5.0") and least in August (3.3"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Boston Logan International Airport, MA, 6 miles southwest of Nahant, has a last frost 21 days earlier (April 4), a first frost 20 days later (November 9), a season 42 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Nahant usually arrives around December 10, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Marblehead, MA, 6 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 37 days after the last snow.

ZIP 01908 is 6 miles from Marblehead, MA, which stands at 84 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 01902 (Lynn). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 01908 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.