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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 01945 — Marblehead, Massachusetts

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Marblehead, MA (84 ft), under a mile north.

Updated

In Marblehead, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 25 in half of years and has passed by May 13 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 20, as early as October 5 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 176 days (NOAA, Marblehead, MA).

Last spring frost
April 25

50% probability

First fall frost
October 20

50% probability

Growing season
176 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 10

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 19

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

28 of 28 observed

Snow per year
39.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Marblehead

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.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 26May 1May 3May 6May 9May 13May 17May 20May 26
32°FApr 12Apr 17Apr 19Apr 23Apr 25Apr 29May 1May 5May 13
28°FApr 1Apr 4Apr 6Apr 9Apr 11Apr 14Apr 17Apr 21Apr 27
24°FMar 18Mar 22Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 7Apr 12
20°FMar 8Mar 13Mar 16Mar 19Mar 21Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 3
16°FFeb 28Mar 5Mar 8Mar 11Mar 13Mar 16Mar 19Mar 22Mar 28
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 28Oct 1Oct 4Oct 6Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 18Oct 23
32°FOct 5Oct 11Oct 14Oct 18Oct 20Oct 23Oct 25Oct 30Nov 3
28°FOct 17Oct 22Oct 26Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9Nov 15
24°FOct 28Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 17Nov 21Nov 28
20°FNov 6Nov 13Nov 17Nov 21Nov 24Nov 27Dec 1Dec 4Dec 10
16°FNov 20Nov 26Nov 30Dec 2Dec 4Dec 8Dec 12Dec 17Dec 23

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Marblehead, MA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 01945 →Compare Marblehead with another place →

Weather by month in Marblehead

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Marblehead, MA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan36183.8100%261
Feb38203.5100%230
Mar44264.7100%195
Apr55364.3100%543
May65453.534%<1185
Jun74544.10%0430
Jul80613.50%0636
Aug79603.30%0598
Sep72533.61%0381
Oct61425.083%1119
Nov51334.2100%1120
Dec42244.7100%222

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Marblehead, MA (84 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Beverly, MA, 6 miles north of Marblehead, has a last frost 9 days later (May 4), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 12), a season 16 days shorter.

Frost dates for 01930 (Gloucester) →

When it snows in Marblehead, Massachusetts

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Marblehead 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, 0.3 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 37 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 01945

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Marblehead, Massachusetts
WhenWhat to do
February 14 – February 28Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 28 – March 14Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 28 – April 11Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 25 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 28Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 6Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 20 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 01945 is under a mile 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 01945 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.

Frost dates across Massachusetts →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in Massachusetts