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USDA Hardiness Zone 5b

Frost Dates for 04864 — Warren, Maine

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from W Rockport 1 NNW, ME (361 ft), 6 miles northeast.

Updated

In Warren, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 27 in half of years and has passed by May 9 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 19, as early as October 5 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 175 days (NOAA, W Rockport 1 NNW, ME).

Last spring frost
April 27

50% probability

First fall frost
October 19

50% probability

Growing season
175 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5b

-15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) coldest night

First snow
December 3

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 2

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
68.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Warren

Half of springs at W Rockport 1 NNW, ME see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 9. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 9 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 67% 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 12 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, longer than at 92% of the 52 Maine stations; it reaches 192 days one year in ten and falls short of 156 one year in ten. On average 148 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 8, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 21.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 28May 1May 3May 5May 8May 11May 14May 17May 22
32°FApr 17Apr 21Apr 23Apr 25Apr 27Apr 29May 1May 4May 9
28°FApr 4Apr 7Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 17Apr 19Apr 22Apr 26
24°FMar 24Mar 31Apr 1Apr 3Apr 4Apr 6Apr 8Apr 11Apr 16
20°FMar 14Mar 19Mar 23Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 6
16°FMar 7Mar 12Mar 15Mar 18Mar 21Mar 24Mar 27Mar 31Apr 2
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 28Oct 1Oct 3Oct 6Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 17Oct 21
32°FOct 5Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 19Oct 22Oct 25Oct 29Nov 3
28°FOct 14Oct 21Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12
24°FOct 26Oct 31Nov 4Nov 8Nov 11Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24
20°FNov 7Nov 13Nov 16Nov 19Nov 22Nov 25Nov 28Dec 1Dec 5
16°FNov 17Nov 23Nov 27Nov 30Dec 1Dec 4Dec 6Dec 10Dec 15

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at W Rockport 1 NNW, ME, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 04864 →Compare Warren with another place →

Weather by month in Warren

July is the warmest month at W Rockport 1 NNW, ME, averaging 77°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°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 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,043 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 54% of the 52 Maine stations. 26% of them (529) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 563. Precipitation totals 56.3 inches a year, most in October (6.1") and least in July (3.2"); May to September bring 35% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at W Rockport 1 NNW, ME
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan30124.8100%300
Feb33144.2100%270
Mar40225.0100%272
Apr51345.2100%1419
May62444.233%1141
Jun71544.50%0367
Jul77603.20%0563
Aug76593.40%0550
Sep69524.52%0318
Oct57416.185%473
Nov47315.3100%1810
Dec36205.9100%280

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at W Rockport 1 NNW, ME (361 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Tenants Harbor, ME, 10 miles south of Warren and 340 feet lower, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 6 days later (October 25), a season 3 days longer.

Frost dates for 04861 (Thomaston) →

When it snows in Warren, Maine

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Warren usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around April 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at W Rockport 1 NNW, ME, 6.4 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.

Planting calendar for 04864

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Warren, Maine
WhenWhat to do
February 16 – March 2Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 2 – March 16Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 30 – April 13Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 27 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 27Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 5Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 19 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 04864 is 6 miles from W Rockport 1 NNW, ME, which stands at 361 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 04841 (Rockland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 04864 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.

Frost dates across Maine →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 5b places in Maine