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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 21084 — Jarrettsville, Maryland

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Conowingo Dam, MD (40 ft), 15 miles east.

Updated

In Jarrettsville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 3 in half of years and has passed by April 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 6, as early as October 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 217 days (NOAA, Conowingo Dam, MD).

Last spring frost
April 3

50% probability

First fall frost
November 6

50% probability

Growing season
217 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 16

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 16

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

29 of 29 observed

Snow per year
28.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Jarrettsville

Half of springs at Conowingo Dam, MD see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 22, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 14 20%, and after April 18 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 52% of the 50 Maryland 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 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 217 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 236 days one year in ten and falls short of 197 one year in ten. On average 106 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 15 days longer, to about April 18, and return around October 28. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between January 2 and February 20.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 3Apr 7Apr 11Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 24Apr 29May 5
32°FMar 22Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1Apr 3Apr 6Apr 9Apr 14Apr 18
28°FMar 8Mar 14Mar 18Mar 21Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 6
24°FFeb 27Mar 3Mar 7Mar 10Mar 13Mar 17Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28
20°FFeb 11Feb 19Feb 25Feb 28Mar 3Mar 7Mar 10Mar 15Mar 20
16°F99% of yrsJan 28Feb 4Feb 9Feb 15Feb 20Feb 25Mar 1Mar 5Mar 11
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 26Oct 28Oct 31Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7
32°FOct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 6Nov 8Nov 12Nov 14Nov 19
28°FNov 4Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1
24°FNov 12Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25Nov 29Dec 2Dec 7Dec 14Dec 23
20°FNov 26Dec 2Dec 7Dec 12Dec 19Dec 23Dec 27Jan 1Jan 8
16°F99% of yrsDec 9Dec 19Dec 25Dec 29Jan 2Jan 6Jan 10Jan 16Jan 23

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Conowingo Dam, MD, 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 21084 →Compare Jarrettsville with another place →

Weather by month in Jarrettsville

July is the warmest month at Conowingo Dam, MD, averaging 88°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 25°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 64% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,882 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 52% of the 50 Maryland stations. 34% of them (1,328) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 868. Precipitation totals 48.2 inches a year, most in September (5.1") and least in February (2.6"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Conowingo Dam, MD
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan40253.6100%262
Feb43262.6100%232
Mar51344.299%1729
Apr64443.464%3166
May74543.90%0428
Jun83644.50%0700
Jul88694.70%0868
Aug85674.50%0811
Sep79605.10%0582
Oct67484.524%1247
Nov55373.298%1340
Dec45314.0100%237

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Conowingo Dam, MD (40 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, Aberdeen Phillips Field, MD, 18 miles southeast of Jarrettsville, has a last frost 7 days later (April 10), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 30), a season 16 days shorter.

Frost dates for 21014 (Bel Air) →

When it snows in Jarrettsville, Maryland

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Jarrettsville usually arrives around December 16, and the last of the season around March 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at New Park, PA, 8.9 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 18 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 21084

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Jarrettsville, Maryland
WhenWhat to do
January 23 – February 6Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 6 – February 20Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 6 – March 20Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 3 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 14Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 23Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 6 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 21084 is 15 miles from Conowingo Dam, MD, which stands at 40 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 21050 (Forest Hill). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21084 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Maryland →

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 7a places in Maryland