Frost Dates for 02053 — Medway, Massachusetts

Half of springs at West Medway, MA see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 14 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 51% of the 71 Massachusetts stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 9 in half of years, as early as September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 162 days in a typical year, shorter than at 66% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 143 one year in ten. On average 152 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 11, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 14.

July is the warmest month at West Medway, MA, averaging 85°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 17°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 46% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,782 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 69% of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 31% of them (862) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 702. Precipitation totals 50.4 inches a year, most in October (5.1") and least in February (3.3"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Walpole 2, MA, 9 miles east of Medway, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 27), a first frost 5 days later (October 14), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Medway usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Milford, MA, 4.6 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 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 02053 is 1 mile from West Medway, MA, which stands at 210 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 12 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 02038 (Franklin). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 02053 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.