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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 03755 — Hanover, New Hampshire

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Hanover, NH (584 ft), 2 miles southwest.

Updated

In Hanover, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 1 in half of years and has passed by May 15 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 13, as early as October 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 162 days (NOAA, Hanover, NH).

Last spring frost
May 1

50% probability

First fall frost
October 13

50% probability

Growing season
162 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

-20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) coldest night

First snow
November 19

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 2

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
60.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Hanover

Half of springs at Hanover, NH see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 21, 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 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 13 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 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 162 days in a typical year, longer than at 80% of the 51 New Hampshire stations; it reaches 181 days one year in ten and falls short of 146 one year in ten. On average 152 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 13, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 27 and March 23.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 30May 4May 7May 10May 13May 16May 18May 21May 27
32°FApr 21Apr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 1May 4May 6May 10May 15
28°FApr 6Apr 10Apr 13Apr 17Apr 19Apr 22Apr 25Apr 28May 3
24°FMar 29Apr 1Apr 3Apr 5Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 17Apr 21
20°FMar 16Mar 21Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 6Apr 10
16°FMar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 19Mar 23Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 4
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 22Sep 26Sep 29Oct 1Oct 3Oct 5Oct 7Oct 10Oct 15
32°FOct 1Oct 5Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 15Oct 18Oct 22Oct 29
28°FOct 9Oct 14Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 28Oct 31Nov 3Nov 8
24°FOct 21Oct 26Oct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 16Nov 20
20°FNov 1Nov 6Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 23Nov 28Dec 2
16°FNov 11Nov 16Nov 20Nov 23Nov 27Nov 30Dec 2Dec 6Dec 11

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Hanover, NH, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 03755 →Compare Hanover with another place →

Weather by month in Hanover

July is the warmest month at Hanover, NH, averaging 83°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°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 September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 55% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,696 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 51 New Hampshire stations. 32% of them (861) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 687. Precipitation totals 40.1 inches a year, most in July (4.5") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Hanover, NH
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan30132.7100%300
Feb34142.4100%270
Mar44243.0100%266
Apr58353.2100%1463
May71463.355%2279
Jun79553.70%0513
Jul83614.50%0687
Aug82593.60%0634
Sep74523.37%<1392
Oct60404.093%7106
Nov47313.0100%1915
Dec36203.4100%272

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Hanover, NH (584 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Lebanon Municipal Airport, NH, 7 miles southwest of Hanover, has a last frost 8 days later (May 9), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 6), a season 14 days shorter.

Frost dates for 03766 (Lebanon) →

When it snows in Hanover, New Hampshire

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hanover usually arrives around November 19, and the last of the season around April 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hanover, NH, 2 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 29 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 03755

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Hanover, New Hampshire
WhenWhat to do
February 20 – March 6Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 6 – March 20Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 3 – April 17Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 1 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 21Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 29Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 13 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 03755 is 2 miles from Hanover, NH, which stands at 584 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 03755 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across New Hampshire →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 5a places in New Hampshire