Frost Dates for 20653 — Lexington Park, Maryland

Half of springs at Patuxent River NAS, MD see their last 32°F night by March 29; only one in ten is past it by March 15, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after April 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 5 20%, and after April 10 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 90% of the 50 Maryland stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 15 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 1, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 230 days in a typical year, longer than at 92% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 251 days one year in ten and falls short of 210 one year in ten. On average 68 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 April 9, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 86%.

July is the warmest month at Patuxent River NAS, MD, averaging 87°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 30°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,401 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 88% of the 50 Maryland stations. 35% of them (1,558) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 902. Precipitation totals 45.4 inches a year, most in August (4.7") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Solomons, MD, 6 miles north of Lexington Park, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 22), a first frost 11 days later (November 26), a season 18 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lexington Park usually arrives around December 25, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mechanicsville 5 NE, MD, 23.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 92% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 23 days after the last snow.

ZIP 20653 is 5 miles from Patuxent River NAS, MD, which stands at 39 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 20653 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.