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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 21225 — Baltimore, Maryland

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD (20 ft), 4 miles north.

Updated

In Baltimore, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 24 in half of years and has passed by April 4 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 21, as early as November 7 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 244 days (NOAA, Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD).

Last spring frost
March 24

50% probability

First fall frost
November 21

50% probability

Growing season
244 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°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 Baltimore

Half of springs at Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by March 8, and one in ten still has one after April 4. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 4 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 21 in half of years, as early as November 7 one year in ten, and holds off past December 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 244 days in a typical year, longer than at 98% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 268 days one year in ten and falls short of 224 one year in ten. On average 52 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 10 days longer, to about April 3, and return around November 10. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 81%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 22Mar 27Mar 31Apr 1Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 10Apr 15
32°FMar 8Mar 13Mar 17Mar 20Mar 24Mar 27Mar 29Apr 1Apr 4
28°FFeb 24Mar 2Mar 6Mar 9Mar 11Mar 15Mar 17Mar 21Mar 26
24°FFeb 9Feb 18Feb 23Feb 28Mar 2Mar 5Mar 8Mar 11Mar 16
20°F98% of yrsJan 19Jan 31Feb 5Feb 9Feb 15Feb 20Feb 26Mar 1Mar 6
16°F81% of yrsJan 8Jan 16Jan 22Jan 29Feb 2Feb 6Feb 11Feb 18Feb 25
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 12Nov 15Nov 18Nov 24
32°FNov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 18Nov 21Nov 25Nov 29Dec 2Dec 8
28°FNov 18Nov 24Nov 28Dec 2Dec 5Dec 9Dec 14Dec 19Dec 25
24°FDec 1Dec 8Dec 13Dec 19Dec 23Dec 26Dec 31Jan 5Jan 12
20°F98% of yrsDec 11Dec 20Dec 26Dec 31Jan 4Jan 8Jan 12Jan 17Jan 28
16°F81% of yrsDec 23Dec 31Jan 5Jan 9Jan 13Jan 17Jan 23Jan 29Feb 7

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, 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 21225 →Compare Baltimore with another place →

Weather by month in Baltimore

July is the warmest month at Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD, averaging 90°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°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 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,686 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the most of the 50 Maryland stations. 36% of them (1,673) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 976. Precipitation totals 44.0 inches a year, most in July (4.7") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan44303.1100%1810
Feb47322.8100%1416
Mar55393.996%674
Apr67483.621%<1250
May76583.40%0526
Jun85683.40%0797
Jul90734.70%0976
Aug87714.40%0904
Sep80654.50%0673
Oct69533.51%0340
Nov58433.073%298
Dec48353.798%1223

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD (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, Baltimore Wash International Airport, MD, 6 miles southwest of Baltimore, has a last frost 17 days later (April 10), a first frost 21 days earlier (October 31), a season 40 days shorter.

Frost dates for 21061 (Glen Burnie) →

When it snows in Baltimore, Maryland

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Baltimore 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, 5.8 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 13 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 21225

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Baltimore, Maryland
WhenWhat to do
January 13 – January 27Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 27 – February 10Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 24 – March 10Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 24 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 29Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 7Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 21 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 21225 is 4 miles from Md Sci Ctr Baltimore, MD, which stands at 20 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 21 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 21222 (Dundalk). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21225 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 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 8a places in Maryland