Frost Dates for 21901 — North East, Maryland

Half of springs at Newark Ag Farm, DE see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 26, and one in ten still has one after April 21. Planting tender crops after April 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 18 20%, and after April 21 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 2 in half of years, as early as October 19 one year in ten, and holds off past November 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 8, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 208 days in a typical year, longer than at 56% of the 50 Maryland stations; it reaches 228 days one year in ten and falls short of 190 one year in ten. On average 97 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 15 days longer, to about April 22, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between January 1 and February 22.

July is the warmest month at Newark Ag Farm, DE, averaging 89°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 25°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 77% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,866 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 50 Maryland stations. 34% of them (1,324) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 852. Precipitation totals 47.0 inches a year, most in September (4.9") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Conowingo Dam, MD, 12 miles west of North East, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 3), a first frost 4 days later (November 6), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in North East usually arrives around December 27, and the last of the season around February 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Aberdeen Phillips Field, MD, 14.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 21901 is 12 miles from Newark Ag Farm, DE, which stands at 106 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 19702 (Newark). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 21901 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.