Frost Dates for 02048 — Mansfield, Massachusetts

Half of springs at Norton W, MA see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 10 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 15 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 168 days in a typical year, shorter than at 52% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 188 days one year in ten and falls short of 149 one year in ten. On average 147 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 9, and return around October 4. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 9.

July is the warmest month at Norton W, MA, averaging 83°F by day and 62°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 38% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,626 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 55% of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 30% of them (787) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 683. Precipitation totals 52.4 inches a year, most in March (5.4") and least in July (3.5"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, NWS Boston/Norton, MA, 6 miles southeast of Mansfield, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 23), a first frost 2 days later (October 17), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Mansfield usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around March 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Norton W, MA, 3.3 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 32 days after the last snow.

ZIP 02048 is 3 miles from Norton W, MA, which stands at 95 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 02703 (Attleboro). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 02048 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.