Frost Dates for 21826 — Fruitland, Maryland

Half of springs at Salisbury, MD see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 18, and one in ten still has one after April 25. Planting tender crops after April 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 16 20%, and after April 25 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the widest of the 50 Maryland stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

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 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 217 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 239 days one year in ten and falls short of 194 one year in ten. On average 71 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 17, and return around October 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 92% of winters, usually between January 7 and February 7.

July is the warmest month at Salisbury, MD, averaging 89°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°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 54% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,456 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 50 Maryland stations. 36% of them (1,605) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 903. Precipitation totals 48.0 inches a year, most in August (5.3") and least in February (3.2"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Salisbury 2N, MD, 6 miles north of Fruitland, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 2), a first frost 3 days later (November 10), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Fruitland usually arrives around January 2, and the last of the season around March 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Salisbury Wicomico Regional Airport, MD, 6.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 94% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 29 days after the last snow.

ZIP 21826 is 3 miles from Salisbury, MD, which stands at 10 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 21804 (Salisbury). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21826 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.