Frost Dates for 02324 — Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Half of springs at Bridgewater, MA see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 10 20%, and after May 15 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 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 161 days in a typical year, shorter than at 73% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 181 days one year in ten and falls short of 141 one year in ten. On average 142 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 12, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 12.

July is the warmest month at Bridgewater, MA, averaging 83°F by day and 60°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 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,522 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 69% of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 29% of them (738) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 662. Precipitation totals 51.2 inches a year, most in March (5.2") and least in August (2.7"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Brockton, MA, 5 miles north of Bridgewater, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 22), a first frost 10 days later (October 19), a season 17 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bridgewater usually arrives around December 17, and the last of the season around March 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Taunton, MA, 7.3 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 47 days after the last snow.

ZIP 02324 is 2 miles from Bridgewater, MA, which stands at 40 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 02324 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.