Frost Dates for 04428 — Eddington, Maine

Half of springs at Orono, ME see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 22, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 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 6 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 157 days in a typical year, longer than at 62% of the 52 Maine stations; it reaches 175 days one year in ten and falls short of 139 one year in ten. On average 164 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 September 28. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 27 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Orono, ME, averaging 81°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 28°F and 11°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 52% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,094 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 60% of the 52 Maine stations. 28% of them (592) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 607.

The nearest other station, Old Town 2 W, ME, 11 miles northwest of Eddington, has a last frost 12 days later (May 13), a first frost 8 days earlier (September 28), a season 20 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Eddington usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bangor International Airport, ME, 12.2 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 25 days after the last snow.

ZIP 04428 is 9 miles from Orono, ME, which stands at 115 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 04473 (Orono). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 04428 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.