Frost Dates for 21842 — Ocean City, Maryland

Half of springs at Ocean City Municipal Airport, MD see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 23 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 50% of the 50 Maryland stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 2 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 7, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 209 days in a typical year, longer than at 58% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 228 days one year in ten and falls short of 187 one year in ten. On average 81 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 21, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 95% of winters, usually between January 2 and February 10.

July is the warmest month at Ocean City Municipal Airport, MD, averaging 84°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 28°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 71% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,739 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 64% of the 50 Maryland stations. 32% of them (1,208) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 815. Precipitation totals 42.7 inches a year, most in October (4.0") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Snow Hill 4 N, MD, 20 miles southwest of Ocean City, has a last frost 3 days later (April 10), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 31), a season 7 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ocean City usually arrives around December 26, and the last of the season around March 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Snow Hill 4 N, MD, 19.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 95% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 33 days after the last snow.

ZIP 21842 is 6 miles from Ocean City Municipal Airport, MD, which stands at 12 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 21811 (Berlin). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21842 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.