Frost Dates for 02740 — New Bedford, Massachusetts

Half of springs at New Bedford Municipal Airport, MA see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 87% 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 2 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 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 April 30, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 167 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 188 days one year in ten and falls short of 148 one year in ten. On average 123 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 13 days longer, to about May 12, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and March 9.

July is the warmest month at New Bedford Municipal Airport, MA, averaging 83°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 21°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 43% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,649 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 51% of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 28% of them (752) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 683. Precipitation totals 45.8 inches a year, most in March (4.8") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, New Bedford Coop, MA, 3 miles southeast of New Bedford, has a last frost 18 days earlier (April 11), a first frost 21 days later (November 5), a season 41 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New Bedford usually arrives around December 22, and the last of the season around March 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rochester, MA, 10.4 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 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 02740 is 3 miles from New Bedford Municipal Airport, MA, which stands at 80 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 02740 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.