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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 08251 — Villas, New Jersey

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Cape May 2 NW, NJ (20 ft), 5 miles south.

Updated

In Villas, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 1 in half of years and has passed by April 15 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 9, as early as October 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 222 days (NOAA, Cape May 2 NW, NJ).

Last spring frost
April 1

50% probability

First fall frost
November 9

50% probability

Growing season
222 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
December 27

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 2

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
14.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Villas

Half of springs at Cape May 2 NW, NJ see their last 32°F night by April 1; only one in ten is past it by March 19, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 10 20%, and after April 15 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 66% of the 56 New Jersey stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 9 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 31, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 222 days in a typical year, longer than at 86% of the 56 New Jersey stations; it reaches 242 days one year in ten and falls short of 201 one year in ten. On average 72 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 16 days longer, to about April 17, and return around October 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 91% of winters, usually between January 8 and February 7.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 3Apr 7Apr 10Apr 14Apr 17Apr 19Apr 23Apr 27May 2
32°FMar 19Mar 24Mar 28Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 15
28°FMar 4Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 19Mar 23Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31
24°FFeb 20Feb 26Mar 2Mar 5Mar 9Mar 12Mar 15Mar 18Mar 23
20°F99% of yrsFeb 2Feb 10Feb 15Feb 21Feb 26Mar 1Mar 5Mar 9Mar 14
16°F91% of yrsJan 15Jan 25Jan 31Feb 3Feb 7Feb 13Feb 20Feb 26Mar 3
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 13Oct 19Oct 23Oct 27Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 11
32°FOct 26Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19Nov 26
28°FNov 7Nov 12Nov 16Nov 20Nov 23Nov 27Nov 30Dec 4Dec 11
24°FNov 18Nov 24Nov 29Dec 3Dec 6Dec 10Dec 15Dec 19Dec 26
20°F99% of yrsDec 1Dec 8Dec 15Dec 19Dec 24Dec 28Jan 2Jan 8Jan 17
16°F91% of yrsDec 16Dec 24Jan 1Jan 4Jan 8Jan 12Jan 18Jan 25Feb 3

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Cape May 2 NW, NJ, 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 08251 →Compare Villas with another place →

Weather by month in Villas

July is the warmest month at Cape May 2 NW, NJ, averaging 86°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 29°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 53% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,833 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 56 New Jersey stations. 31% of them (1,202) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 834. Precipitation totals 43.9 inches a year, most in October (4.2") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 43% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cape May 2 NW, NJ
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan43293.2100%215
Feb45293.0100%185
Mar52354.199%1128
Apr62443.353%1136
May71543.61%0382
Jun80633.50%0647
Jul86683.90%0834
Aug84674.00%0798
Sep79623.80%0605
Oct68514.220%<1299
Nov57413.394%578
Dec48334.0100%1617

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cape May 2 NW, NJ (20 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, Belleplain Stn Forest, NJ, 16 miles north of Villas, has a last frost 23 days later (April 24), a first frost 18 days earlier (October 22), a season 41 days shorter.

Frost dates for 08270 (Woodbine) →

When it snows in Villas, New Jersey

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Villas usually arrives around December 27, and the last of the season around March 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cape May 2 NW, NJ, 4.8 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 30 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 08251

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Villas, New Jersey
WhenWhat to do
January 21 – February 4Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 4 – February 18Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 4 – March 18Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 1 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 17Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 26Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 9 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 08251 is 5 miles from Cape May 2 NW, NJ, which stands at 20 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 08210 (Cape May Court House). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 08251 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across New Jersey →

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 8a places in New Jersey