Frost Dates for 01944 — Manchester, Massachusetts

Half of springs at Beverly, MA see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 24, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 17 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 51% of the 71 Massachusetts stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 12 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 160 days in a typical year, shorter than at 75% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 142 one year in ten. On average 133 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 11 days longer, to about May 15, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 15.

July is the warmest month at Beverly, MA, averaging 80°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°F and 18°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 67% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,334 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 89% of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 28% of them (663) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 620. Precipitation totals 48.0 inches a year, most in October (5.0") and least in July (3.4"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Marblehead, MA, 7 miles southwest of Manchester, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 25), a first frost 8 days later (October 20), a season 16 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Manchester usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 20. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Beverly, MA, 3.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 45 days after the last snow.

ZIP 01944 is 4 miles from Beverly, MA, which stands at 65 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 01930 (Gloucester). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 01944 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.