Frost Dates for 03106 — Hooksett, New Hampshire

Half of springs at Massabesic Lake, NH see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 19, 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 narrower than at 25% of the 51 New Hampshire stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 88% of the 51 New Hampshire stations; it reaches 183 days one year in ten and falls short of 146 one year in ten. On average 161 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 12 days longer, to about May 12, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 19.

July is the warmest month at Massabesic Lake, NH, averaging 81°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 13°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 47% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,496 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 51 New Hampshire stations. 31% of them (761) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 651. Precipitation totals 42.8 inches a year, most in October (4.4") and least in January (2.7"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Manchester Airport, NH, 9 miles south of Hooksett, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 8 days later (October 19), a season 16 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hooksett usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Massabesic Lake, NH, 5.5 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 36 days after the last snow.

ZIP 03106 is 6 miles from Massabesic Lake, NH, which stands at 253 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 03104 (Manchester). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 03106 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.