USDA Hardiness Zone 5b
Frost Dates for 04038 — Gorham, Maine
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from West Buxton 2 NNW, ME (220 ft), 8 miles west.
Updated
In Gorham, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 7 in half of years and has passed by May 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 4, as early as September 23 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 148 days (NOAA, West Buxton 2 NNW, ME).
- Last spring frost
- May 7
- First fall frost
- October 4
- Growing season
- 148 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
-15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) coldest night
- First snow
- November 26
- Last snow
- April 6
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- 68.7"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
30 of 30 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Gorham
Half of springs at West Buxton 2 NNW, ME see their last 32°F night by May 7; only one in ten is past it by April 28, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 15 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 11 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 87% of the 52 Maine stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 4 in half of years, as early as September 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 148 days in a typical year, shorter than at 58% of the 52 Maine stations; it reaches 164 days one year in ten and falls short of 133 one year in ten. On average 171 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 19, and return around September 25. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 19 and March 27.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 7 | May 11 | May 14 | May 17 | May 19 | May 21 | May 24 | May 28 | Jun 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 28 | May 1 | May 3 | May 5 | May 7 | May 9 | May 12 | May 15 | May 18 |
| 28°F | Apr 14 | Apr 19 | Apr 22 | Apr 24 | Apr 26 | Apr 28 | Apr 30 | May 3 | May 6 |
| 24°F | Apr 3 | Apr 6 | Apr 9 | Apr 12 | Apr 15 | Apr 17 | Apr 19 | Apr 22 | Apr 25 |
| 20°F | Mar 23 | Mar 29 | Mar 31 | Apr 2 | Apr 4 | Apr 6 | Apr 8 | Apr 11 | Apr 16 |
| 16°F | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 20 | Mar 24 | Mar 27 | Mar 30 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 6 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 14 | Sep 18 | Sep 21 | Sep 23 | Sep 25 | Sep 28 | Sep 30 | Oct 2 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F | Sep 23 | Sep 27 | Sep 30 | Oct 2 | Oct 4 | Oct 5 | Oct 8 | Oct 11 | Oct 15 |
| 28°F | Oct 2 | Oct 5 | Oct 8 | Oct 10 | Oct 13 | Oct 16 | Oct 20 | Oct 25 | Oct 31 |
| 24°F | Oct 12 | Oct 17 | Oct 21 | Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 9 |
| 20°F | Oct 26 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 16 | Nov 20 |
| 16°F | Nov 5 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 16 | Nov 19 | Nov 21 | Nov 25 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at West Buxton 2 NNW, ME, 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 04038 →Compare Gorham with another place →
Frost risk through the year in Gorham
In Gorham, the spring curve drops under 10% on May 18 and the fall curve passes 10% on September 23, 128 days later; that gap is longer than at 52% of the 52 Maine stations with frost dates. The spring risk falls from 90% to 10% over 20 days (April 28 to May 18) and the fall risk climbs from 10% to 90% over 22 days (September 23 to October 15): both ends of the season vary about as much. At Portland International Jetport, ME, 9 miles east, the same gap runs from May 7 to October 2, 20 days longer.
| Planted on | Another 32°F night | 28°F night |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 23 | over 90% | 65% |
| Apr 30 | 83% | 30% |
| May 750% date | 50% | under 10% |
| May 14 | 23% | under 10% |
| May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| May 28 | under 10% | under 10% |
Weather by month in Gorham
July is the warmest month at West Buxton 2 NNW, ME, averaging 82°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 8°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 80% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 2,221 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 79% of the 52 Maine stations. 29% of them (641) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 615. Precipitation totals 49.7 inches a year, most in October (5.5") and least in February (3.4"); May to September bring 39% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31 | 8 | 3.5 | 100% | 31 | 0 |
| Feb | 34 | 10 | 3.4 | 100% | 27 | 0 |
| Mar | 43 | 20 | 4.3 | 100% | 28 | 2 |
| Apr | 56 | 31 | 4.7 | 100% | 17 | 30 |
| May | 67 | 43 | 3.8 | 80% | 3 | 180 |
| Jun | 76 | 52 | 4.3 | 0% | 0 | 429 |
| Jul | 82 | 58 | 4.0 | 0% | 0 | 615 |
| Aug | 81 | 56 | 3.5 | 0% | 0 | 570 |
| Sep | 73 | 48 | 3.9 | 31% | 1 | 320 |
| Oct | 60 | 36 | 5.5 | 100% | 12 | 67 |
| Nov | 48 | 26 | 4.4 | 100% | 22 | 7 |
| Dec | 37 | 16 | 4.4 | 100% | 30 | 1 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at West Buxton 2 NNW, ME (220 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, Portland International Jetport, ME, 9 miles east of Gorham and 175 feet lower, has a last frost 11 days earlier (April 26), a first frost 11 days later (October 15), a season 22 days longer.
When it snows in Gorham, Maine
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Gorham usually arrives around November 26, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Portland International Jetport, ME, 8.8 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 31 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 04038
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 26 – March 12 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| March 12 – March 26 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| April 9 – April 23 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| May 7 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by July 12 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by September 20 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| October 4 onward | Plant 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 04038 is 8 miles from West Buxton 2 NNW, ME, which stands at 220 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 04038 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.
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.