Frost Dates for 04268 — Norway, Maine

Half of springs at Bethel 6 SSE, ME see their last 32°F night by May 6; only one in ten is past it by April 27, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 19 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 33% of the 52 Maine stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 2 in half of years, as early as September 20 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around October 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 147 days in a typical year, shorter than at 62% of the 52 Maine stations; it reaches 167 days one year in ten and falls short of 128 one year in ten. On average 167 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 May 19, and return around September 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 28.

July is the warmest month at Bethel 6 SSE, ME, averaging 79°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 28°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 76% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,978 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 52 Maine stations. 29% of them (571) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 555.

The nearest other station, Bridgton 3 NW, ME, 13 miles southwest of Norway and 282 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day earlier (May 5), a first frost 3 days later (October 5), a season 4 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Norway usually arrives around November 18, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bridgton 3 NW, ME, 13.3 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 30 days after the last snow.

ZIP 04268 is 11 miles from Bethel 6 SSE, ME, which stands at 790 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 04268 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.