Frost Dates for 04353 — Whitefield, Maine

Half of springs at Gardiner, ME see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 14 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 11 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 163 days in a typical year, longer than at 77% of the 52 Maine stations; it reaches 182 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 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 13 days longer, to about May 14, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 22.

July is the warmest month at Gardiner, ME, averaging 81°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°F and 9°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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,276 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 85% of the 52 Maine stations. 28% of them (641) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 622. Precipitation totals 47.8 inches a year, most in October (5.4") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Newcastle, ME, 12 miles south of Whitefield, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 27), a first frost 7 days later (October 18), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Whitefield usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around April 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gardiner, ME, 9.2 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 26 days after the last snow.

ZIP 04353 is 9 miles from Gardiner, ME, which stands at 133 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 04345 (Gardiner). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 04353 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.