Frost Dates for 02744 — New Bedford, Massachusetts

Half of springs at New Bedford Coop, MA see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 30, and one in ten still has one after April 22. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 19 20%, and after April 22 10%. The 11 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 96% of the 71 Massachusetts stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 5 in half of years, as early as October 24 one year in ten, and holds off past November 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 12, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 208 days in a typical year, longer than at 96% of the 71 Massachusetts stations; it reaches 225 days one year in ten and falls short of 190 one year in ten. On average 104 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 April 24, and return around October 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 18 and March 7.

July is the warmest month at New Bedford Coop, MA, averaging 84°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 87% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,235 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the most of the 71 Massachusetts stations. 28% of them (910) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 793. Precipitation totals 52.3 inches a year, most in March (5.3") and least in July (3.6"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, New Bedford Municipal Airport, MA, 5 miles northwest of New Bedford, has a last frost 18 days later (April 29), a first frost 21 days earlier (October 15), a season 41 days shorter.

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, 12 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 25 days after the last snow.

ZIP 02744 is 1 mile from New Bedford Coop, MA, which stands at 18 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 02719 (Fairhaven). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 02744 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.