Frost Dates for 02842 — Middletown, Rhode Island

Half of springs at Newport State Airport, RI see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after April 24. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 19 20%, and after April 24 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 60% of the 10 Rhode Island stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 4 in half of years, as early as October 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 206 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 10 Rhode Island stations; it reaches 223 days one year in ten and falls short of 187 one year in ten. On average 98 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 16 days longer, to about April 27, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 23 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Newport State Airport, RI, averaging 80°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 24°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 2,740 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 60% of the 10 Rhode Island stations. 27% of them (744) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 677. Precipitation totals 42.1 inches a year, most in March (4.6") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Newport Rose, RI, 3 miles west of Middletown and 157 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 7), a first frost 9 days later (November 13), a season 10 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Middletown usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Tiverton, RI, 8.9 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 21 days after the last snow.

ZIP 02842 is 2 miles from Newport State Airport, RI, which stands at 172 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 02842 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.