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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 21755 — Jefferson, Maryland

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Frederick Police Brks, MD (380 ft), 7 miles northeast.

Updated

In Jefferson, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 2 in half of years and has passed by April 15 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 6, as early as October 23 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 218 days (NOAA, Frederick Police Brks, MD).

Last spring frost
April 2

50% probability

First fall frost
November 6

50% probability

Growing season
218 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

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

First snow
December 13

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 7

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

16 of 16 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Jefferson

Half of springs at Frederick Police Brks, MD see their last 32°F night by April 2; only one in ten is past it by March 17, 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 11 20%, and after April 15 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% 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 23 one year in ten, and holds off past November 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 218 days in a typical year, longer than at 72% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 239 days one year in ten and falls short of 196 one year in ten. On average 84 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 13 days longer, to about April 15, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 94% of winters, usually between January 4 and February 10.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 31Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 25May 2
32°FMar 17Mar 23Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 7Apr 11Apr 15
28°FMar 3Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 21Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 4
24°FFeb 20Feb 28Mar 3Mar 6Mar 9Mar 12Mar 16Mar 20Mar 26
20°FFeb 2Feb 9Feb 16Feb 23Feb 28Mar 3Mar 6Mar 10Mar 17
16°F94% of yrsJan 14Jan 24Jan 31Feb 5Feb 10Feb 16Feb 23Mar 1Mar 7
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 9Oct 15Oct 19Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 6
32°FOct 23Oct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 6Nov 10Nov 13Nov 17Nov 24
28°FNov 6Nov 10Nov 14Nov 17Nov 21Nov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 11
24°FNov 14Nov 23Nov 29Dec 2Dec 7Dec 11Dec 16Dec 21Dec 28
20°FDec 1Dec 9Dec 14Dec 20Dec 24Dec 28Jan 1Jan 5Jan 15
16°F94% of yrsDec 15Dec 23Dec 28Jan 1Jan 4Jan 10Jan 15Jan 20Jan 29

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Frederick Police Brks, 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 21755 →Compare Jefferson with another place →

Weather by month in Jefferson

July is the warmest month at Frederick Police Brks, MD, averaging 89°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°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 55% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,174 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 50 Maryland stations. 37% of them (1,529) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 883. Precipitation totals 43.8 inches a year, most in September (5.8") and least in January (2.6"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Frederick Police Brks, MD
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan43272.6100%2110
Feb48293.0100%187
Mar55363.798%1353
Apr69453.655%2230
May77554.02%0503
Jun85634.30%0727
Jul89683.90%0883
Aug87662.90%0823
Sep80595.80%0589
Oct69473.329%1264
Nov56382.795%971
Dec47314.0100%1914

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Frederick Police Brks, MD (380 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, Sharpsburg 5 S, MD, 9 miles west of Jefferson, has a last frost 24 days later (April 26), a first frost 19 days earlier (October 18), a season 43 days shorter.

Frost dates for 25425 (Harpers Ferry) →

When it snows in Jefferson, Maryland

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Jefferson usually arrives around December 13, and the last of the season around March 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Sharpsburg 5 S, MD, 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 26 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 21755

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Jefferson, 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 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 21755 is 7 miles from Frederick Police Brks, MD, which stands at 380 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 21702 (Frederick). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21755 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