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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 21673 — Trappe, Maryland

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD (10 ft), 8 miles northwest.

Updated

In Trappe, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 1 in half of years and has passed by April 15 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 7, as early as October 24 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 220 days (NOAA, Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD).

Last spring frost
April 1

50% probability

First fall frost
November 7

50% probability

Growing season
220 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
December 28

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 2

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

29 of 29 observed

Snow per year
14.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Trappe

Half of springs at Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD see their last 32°F night by April 1; only one in ten is past it by March 18, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 10 20%, and after April 15 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 62% 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 24 one year in ten, and holds off past November 23 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 1, 14 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 240 days one year in ten and falls short of 202 one year in ten. On average 69 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 14 days longer, to about April 15, and return around October 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 91% of winters, usually between January 8 and February 8.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 31Apr 4Apr 8Apr 11Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 25May 3
32°FMar 18Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 15
28°FMar 3Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 22Mar 26Mar 29Apr 1
24°FFeb 19Feb 26Mar 1Mar 5Mar 8Mar 12Mar 16Mar 19Mar 23
20°F99% of yrsJan 31Feb 9Feb 15Feb 20Feb 25Feb 28Mar 3Mar 9Mar 15
16°F91% of yrsJan 13Jan 24Jan 30Feb 3Feb 8Feb 13Feb 20Feb 26Mar 3
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 11Oct 17Oct 22Oct 25Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 10
32°FOct 24Oct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 7Nov 10Nov 13Nov 17Nov 23
28°FNov 5Nov 9Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 3Dec 9
24°FNov 17Nov 24Nov 29Dec 2Dec 6Dec 10Dec 15Dec 20Dec 27
20°F99% of yrsDec 3Dec 9Dec 15Dec 20Dec 25Dec 29Jan 1Jan 7Jan 15
16°F91% of yrsDec 15Dec 24Dec 30Jan 2Jan 8Jan 13Jan 18Jan 24Feb 4

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Royal Oak 2 SSW, 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 21673 →Compare Trappe with another place →

Weather by month in Trappe

July is the warmest month at Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD, averaging 88°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 29°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 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,342 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 50 Maryland stations. 36% of them (1,548) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 902. Precipitation totals 47.7 inches a year, most in August (4.8") and least in February (3.1"); May to September bring 45% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan45293.5100%2012
Feb47313.1100%1713
Mar56374.499%1065
Apr67473.751%1229
May75564.00%0490
Jun84664.00%0738
Jul88704.30%0902
Aug86684.80%0842
Sep80624.20%0624
Oct69514.424%<1313
Nov58413.497%592
Dec49333.9100%1522

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD (10 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, Vienna, MD, 18 miles southeast of Trappe, has a last frost 7 days later (April 8), a first frost 3 days earlier (November 4), a season 11 days shorter.

Frost dates for 21643 (Hurlock) →

When it snows in Trappe, Maryland

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Trappe usually arrives around December 28, and the last of the season around March 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD, 7.5 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 30 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 21673

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Trappe, Maryland
WhenWhat to do
January 21 – February 4Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 4 – February 18Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 4 – March 18Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 1 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 21673 is 8 miles from Royal Oak 2 SSW, MD, which stands at 10 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 21601 (Easton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21673 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