Frost Dates for 01960 — Peabody, Massachusetts

Half of springs at Beverly Municipal Airport, MA see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 2 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 83% of the 71 Massachusetts stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 17 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 177 days in a typical year, longer than at 63% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 197 days one year in ten and falls short of 157 one year in ten. On average 126 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 12 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 5. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 10 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at Beverly Municipal Airport, MA, averaging 82°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 20°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 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,667 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 29% of them (778) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 682. Precipitation totals 44.9 inches a year, most in October (4.5") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Middleton, MA, 5 miles northwest of Peabody, has a last frost 9 days later (May 3), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 9), a season 20 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Peabody usually arrives around December 4, and the last of the season around March 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Middleton, MA, 5 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 32 days after the last snow.

ZIP 01960 is 4 miles from Beverly Municipal Airport, MA, which stands at 108 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 01960 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.