Frost Dates for 04280 — Sabattus, Maine

Half of springs at Lewiston, ME see their last 32°F night by April 25; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 2 20%, and after May 6 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 19 in half of years, as early as October 5 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 24, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 177 days in a typical year, longer than at 94% of the 52 Maine stations; it reaches 198 days one year in ten and falls short of 159 one year in ten. On average 141 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 11 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 20.

July is the warmest month at Lewiston, ME, averaging 80°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 28°F and 12°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,366 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 94% of the 52 Maine stations. 29% of them (675) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 646. Precipitation totals 45.1 inches a year, most in October (4.9") and least in February (3.2"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Durham, ME, 8 miles south of Sabattus, has a last frost 20 days later (May 15), a first frost 17 days earlier (October 2), a season 38 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sabattus usually arrives around November 21, and the last of the season around April 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Durham, ME, 8.3 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 15 days after the last snow.

ZIP 04280 is 7 miles from Lewiston, ME, which stands at 180 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 04240 (Lewiston). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 04280 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.