Delaware frost dates
The typical last spring frost ranges from Mar 29 in Rehoboth Beach to Apr 7 in Wilmington.
4 of the 4 Delaware cities listed have typical frost dates. The longest frost-free season is 231 days in Rehoboth Beach; the shortest is 209 days in Newark. For a single address, look up your ZIP code: rural ZIPs use their nearest suitable station.
| City | Last spring frost | 1 in 10 after | First fall frost | 1 in 10 before | Hard freeze (28°F) | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | Apr 4 | Apr 17 | Nov 4 | Oct 23 | Mar 25 / Nov 16 | 214 days |
| Newark | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | Nov 1 | Oct 19 | Mar 27 / Nov 14 | 209 days |
| Rehoboth Beach | Mar 29 | Apr 9 | Nov 14 | Nov 1 | Mar 16 / Nov 28 | 231 days |
| Wilmington | Apr 7 | Apr 24 | Nov 4 | Oct 21 | Mar 29 / Nov 15 | 209 days |
Reading the table: Newark
In Newark, the last spring frost typically comes around Apr 7: in half of years it is earlier, in half later. In 1 year in 10 it comes after Apr 21, 14 days later, so tender plants set out after that date have a 90% chance of escaping frost. In fall, the first frost typically arrives around Nov 1, and in 1 year in 10 before Oct 19. Hard freezes (28°F) usually end earlier in spring and start later in fall: around Mar 27 and Nov 14 in Newark.
Frost dates at more Delaware weather stations
NOAA stations across Delaware used by our ZIP code lookup, named for the town they are in.
| Station | Elevation | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown Sussex Co Airport | 51 ft | Apr 4 (1 in 10 after Apr 16) | Nov 6 (before Oct 23) |
| Greenwood 2NE | 45 ft | Apr 11 (1 in 10 after Apr 28) | Oct 30 (before Oct 14) |
32°F dates from NOAA 1991-2020 freeze probabilities for each city's station. "1 in 10 after": a 10% chance of a later spring frost (planting is 90% safe after it). How to read frost dates.