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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 21093 — Lutherville, Maryland

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Cylburn, MD (235 ft), 6 miles south.

Updated

In Lutherville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 2 in half of years and has passed by April 13 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 7, as early as October 27 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 220 days (NOAA, Cylburn, MD).

Last spring frost
April 2

50% probability

First fall frost
November 7

50% probability

Growing season
220 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
December 11

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 11

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
19.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Lutherville

Half of springs at Cylburn, MD see their last 32°F night by April 2; only one in ten is past it by March 20, and one in ten still has one after April 13. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 13 10%. The 11 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 94% of the 50 Maryland stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 7 in half of years, as early as October 27 one year in ten, and holds off past November 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 3, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 220 days in a typical year, longer than at 78% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 239 days one year in ten and falls short of 203 one year in ten. On average 92 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 14, and return around October 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 97% of winters, usually between January 3 and February 17.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 2Apr 6Apr 9Apr 11Apr 14Apr 17Apr 21Apr 25May 1
32°FMar 20Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 6Apr 9Apr 13
28°FMar 8Mar 13Mar 16Mar 19Mar 22Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 3
24°FFeb 25Mar 2Mar 6Mar 9Mar 13Mar 15Mar 18Mar 21Mar 26
20°FFeb 9Feb 17Feb 24Feb 28Mar 3Mar 6Mar 10Mar 14Mar 20
16°F97% of yrsJan 21Jan 31Feb 6Feb 12Feb 17Feb 23Feb 28Mar 4Mar 10
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 18Oct 22Oct 25Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 9
32°FOct 27Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 7Nov 9Nov 12Nov 16Nov 21
28°FNov 6Nov 10Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24Nov 29Dec 2Dec 7
24°FNov 17Nov 24Nov 29Dec 1Dec 5Dec 9Dec 14Dec 20Dec 26
20°FDec 1Dec 7Dec 12Dec 18Dec 22Dec 25Dec 30Jan 3Jan 11
16°F97% of yrsDec 14Dec 21Dec 26Dec 31Jan 3Jan 7Jan 13Jan 19Jan 29

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Cylburn, 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 21093 →Compare Lutherville with another place →

Weather by month in Lutherville

July is the warmest month at Cylburn, MD, averaging 87°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 27°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 58% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,925 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 50 Maryland stations. 35% of them (1,388) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 865.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cylburn, MD
MonthHigh °FLow °F32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan4227100%248
Feb4628100%2212
Mar543499%1551
Apr664558%2198
May73550%0431
Jun82640%0689
Jul87690%0865
Aug84670%0789
Sep77600%0549
Oct664922%1251
Nov563996%967
Dec463299%2017

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cylburn, MD (235 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, Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD, 11 miles south of Lutherville and 215 feet lower, has a last frost 9 days earlier (March 24), a first frost 14 days later (November 21), a season 24 days longer.

Frost dates for 21222 (Dundalk) →

When it snows in Lutherville, Maryland

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lutherville usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around March 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Baltimore Wash International Airport, MD, 18.8 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 22 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 21093

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Lutherville, Maryland
WhenWhat to do
January 22 – February 5Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 5 – February 19Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 5 – March 19Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 2 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 15Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 24Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 7 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 21093 is 6 miles from Cylburn, MD, which stands at 235 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 29 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 21234 (Baltimore). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21093 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.

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 7b places in Maryland