Frost Dates for 19968 — Milton, Delaware

Half of springs at Georgetown Sussex Co Airport, DE see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 22, and one in ten still has one after April 16. Planting tender crops after April 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 13 20%, and after April 16 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 10 Delaware stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 6 in half of years, as early as October 23 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 217 days in a typical year, longer than at 70% of the 10 Delaware stations; it reaches 239 days one year in ten and falls short of 198 one year in ten. On average 83 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 12 days longer, to about April 16, and return around October 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 94% of winters, usually between January 5 and February 8.

July is the warmest month at Georgetown Sussex Co Airport, DE, averaging 88°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°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 65% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,225 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 10 Delaware stations. 35% of them (1,473) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 886. Precipitation totals 43.9 inches a year, most in September (4.5") and least in February (2.6"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Lewes, DE, 7 miles east of Milton, has a last frost 6 days earlier (March 29), a first frost 8 days later (November 14), a season 14 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Milton usually arrives around December 28, and the last of the season around March 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Greenwood 2NE, DE, 15.9 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 19968 is 7 miles from Georgetown Sussex Co Airport, DE, which stands at 51 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 19966 (Millsboro). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 19968 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.