Frost Dates for 04654 — Machias, Maine

Half of springs at Wesley, ME see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 12 10%. The 10 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the narrowest of the 52 Maine stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so the end of frost is fairly predictable.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 15 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 52 Maine stations; it reaches 183 days one year in ten and falls short of 146 one year in ten. On average 162 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 10 days longer, to about May 12, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 27 and March 28.

July is the warmest month at Wesley, ME, averaging 77°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°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 September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,934 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 62% of the 52 Maine stations. 27% of them (514) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 546. Precipitation totals 49.3 inches a year, most in October (5.3") and least in July (3.1"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Woodland, ME, 25 miles north of Machias and 287 feet lower, has a last frost 11 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 11 days later (October 26), a season 21 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Machias usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around April 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Machias, ME, 7.3 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 23 days after the last snow.

ZIP 04654 is 12 miles from Wesley, ME, which stands at 410 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 04654 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.