Frost Dates for 21550 — Oakland, Maryland

Half of springs at Oakland 1 SE, MD see their last 32°F night by May 6; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 23. Planting tender crops after May 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 23 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 64% of the 50 Maryland stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 9 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 12, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 156 days in a typical year, shorter than at 96% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 177 days one year in ten and falls short of 136 one year in ten. On average 145 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 May 17, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 20.

July is the warmest month at Oakland 1 SE, MD, averaging 81°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°F and 18°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 67% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,691 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 92% of the 50 Maryland stations. 34% of them (925) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 642. Precipitation totals 50.7 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in November (3.4"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Sines Deep Creek, MD, 8 miles north of Oakland and 380 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days later (May 9), a first frost 2 days later (October 11), a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Oakland usually arrives around November 14, and the last of the season around April 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Oakland 1 SE, MD, 0.6 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 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 21550 is under a mile from Oakland 1 SE, MD, which stands at 2,420 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21550 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.