Massachusetts frost dates
The typical last spring frost ranges from Apr 4 in Boston to May 3 in Springfield.
11 of the 11 Massachusetts cities listed have typical frost dates. The longest frost-free season is 218 days in Boston; the shortest is 158 days in Springfield. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Apr 4 | Apr 17 | Nov 9 | Oct 29 | Mar 28 / Nov 21 | 218 days |
| Brockton | Apr 22 | May 5 | Oct 19 | Oct 5 | Apr 6 / Oct 31 | 178 days |
| Cambridge | Apr 4 | Apr 17 | Nov 9 | Oct 29 | Mar 28 / Nov 21 | 218 days |
| Edgartown | Apr 17 | May 3 | Nov 3 | Oct 20 | Apr 2 / Nov 16 | 199 days |
| Lowell | Apr 30 | May 10 | Oct 10 | Sep 30 | Apr 18 / Oct 22 | 164 days |
| Lynn | Apr 4 | Apr 17 | Nov 9 | Oct 29 | Mar 28 / Nov 21 | 218 days |
| Nantucket | Apr 13 | Apr 27 | Nov 8 | Oct 25 | Mar 31 / Nov 23 | 208 days |
| New Bedford | Apr 29 | May 15 | Oct 15 | Oct 2 | Apr 15 / Oct 28 | 167 days |
| Quincy | Apr 25 | May 8 | Oct 22 | Oct 6 | Apr 10 / Nov 2 | 177 days |
| Springfield | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 8 | Sep 26 | Apr 21 / Oct 20 | 158 days |
| Worcester | Apr 23 | May 5 | Oct 21 | Oct 6 | Apr 11 / Nov 1 | 181 days |
Reading the table: Brockton
In Brockton, the last spring frost typically comes around Apr 22: in half of years it is earlier, in half later. In 1 year in 10 it comes after May 5, 13 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 Oct 19, and in 1 year in 10 before Oct 5. Hard freezes (28°F) usually end earlier in spring and start later in fall: around Apr 6 and Oct 31 in Brockton.
Frost dates at more Massachusetts weather stations
NOAA stations across Massachusetts used by our ZIP code lookup, named for the town they are in.
| Station | Elevation | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | 145 ft | May 5 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Oct 8 (before Sep 28) |
| Ashburnham | 1,108 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 16) | Oct 13 (before Oct 1) |
| Ashburnham N | 1,146 ft | May 5 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Oct 7 (before Sep 24) |
| Barre Falls Dam | 825 ft | May 12 (1 in 10 after May 28) | Oct 1 (before Sep 18) |
| Bedford Hanscom Fld | 133 ft | Apr 28 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 10 (before Sep 28) |
| Belchertown | 550 ft | May 3 (1 in 10 after May 16) | Oct 14 (before Oct 1) |
| Beverly Muni Airport | 108 ft | Apr 24 (1 in 10 after May 6) | Oct 17 (before Oct 3) |
| Birch Hill Dam | 855 ft | May 6 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Oct 1 (before Sep 19) |
| Blue Hill Coop | 625 ft | Apr 18 (1 in 10 after Apr 30) | Oct 26 (before Oct 9) |
| Bridgewater | 40 ft | May 1 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 9 (before Sep 26) |
| Buffumville Lake | 520 ft | May 1 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 10 (before Sep 28) |
| Chatham | 40 ft | Apr 5 (1 in 10 after Apr 18) | Nov 15 (before Nov 1) |
| Chatham Muni Airport | 68 ft | Apr 13 (1 in 10 after Apr 26) | Nov 4 (before Oct 21) |
| E Brimfield Lake | 700 ft | Apr 28 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 15 (before Oct 1) |
| E Hawley | 1,647 ft | May 17 (1 in 10 after May 30) | Oct 1 (before Sep 18) |
| E Wareham | 30 ft | Apr 21 (1 in 10 after May 3) | Oct 24 (before Oct 11) |
| Fitchburg Muni Airport | 348 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 11 (before Oct 1) |
| Greenfield #3 | 130 ft | May 1 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 11 (before Sep 29) |
| Groveland | 30 ft | May 3 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 8 (before Sep 28) |
| Haverhill | 20 ft | May 1 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 12 (before Oct 1) |
| Hyannis | 60 ft | Apr 16 (1 in 10 after Apr 30) | Oct 30 (before Oct 15) |
| Hyannis Barnstable Muni Airport | 55 ft | Apr 22 (1 in 10 after May 5) | Oct 28 (before Oct 13) |
| Jamaica Plain | 95 ft | Apr 19 (1 in 10 after May 3) | Oct 23 (before Oct 8) |
| Lawrence | 50 ft | Apr 13 (1 in 10 after Apr 29) | Oct 28 (before Oct 13) |
| Lenox Dale | 1,004 ft | May 7 (1 in 10 after May 21) | Oct 3 (before Sep 21) |
| Leverett #2 | 315 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 16) | Oct 9 (before Sep 29) |
| Marblehead | 84 ft | Apr 25 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 20 (before Oct 5) |
| Maynard 2 | 205 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 16) | Oct 6 (before Sep 25) |
| Middleton | 110 ft | May 3 (1 in 10 after May 20) | Oct 9 (before Sep 29) |
| Natick | 180 ft | Apr 26 (1 in 10 after May 9) | Oct 12 (before Oct 1) |
| North Adams Harriman Airport | 654 ft | May 10 (1 in 10 after May 25) | Oct 4 (before Sep 21) |
| Norton W | 95 ft | Apr 27 (1 in 10 after May 10) | Oct 15 (before Oct 1) |
| Norwood Mem Airport | 50 ft | Apr 25 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 9 (before Sep 28) |
| Orange Muni Airport | 555 ft | May 4 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 8 (before Sep 27) |
| Pittsfield Muni Airport | 1,194 ft | May 5 (1 in 10 after May 21) | Oct 5 (before Sep 23) |
| Plymouth Muni Airport | 149 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 16 (before Oct 3) |
| Plymouth-Kingston | 45 ft | Apr 15 (1 in 10 after Apr 28) | Nov 1 (before Oct 17) |
| Reading | 110 ft | Apr 25 (1 in 10 after May 8) | Oct 17 (before Oct 3) |
| Rochester | 65 ft | Apr 23 (1 in 10 after May 7) | Oct 21 (before Oct 6) |
| Rowe 3NE | 1,735 ft | May 14 (1 in 10 after May 26) | Oct 4 (before Sep 20) |
| Taunton Muni Airport | 43 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 16) | Oct 8 (before Sep 25) |
| Vineyard Haven Airport | 68 ft | May 7 (1 in 10 after May 27) | Oct 9 (before Sep 23) |
| Walpole 2 | 170 ft | Apr 27 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 14 (before Oct 2) |
| West Medway | 210 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 9 (before Sep 29) |
| Worthington | 1,285 ft | May 13 (1 in 10 after May 26) | Oct 2 (before Sep 20) |
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.