Frost Dates
Frost Dates · Massachusetts

Frost dates for Boston, Massachusetts

Massachusetts · first & last freeze, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals

Typical last spring freeze (32°F)
April 4
median date, 1991–2020
Typical first fall freeze (32°F)
November 9
median date, 1991–2020
Typical frost-free season
219 days
between the median dates

In a typical year, the last spring freeze around Boston comes near April 4 and the first fall freeze near November 9. One year in ten, a freeze still arrives after April 17 in spring — and one year in ten, the first fall freeze has already landed by October 29. NCEI's own growing-season statistic (days between freezes, percentiled per year) puts the median at 218 days.

JFMAMJJASONDApril 4November 9
The year at a glance: blue bands span the 9-in-10 to 1-in-10 range where the last spring / first fall 32°F freeze lands; the green band is the typical frost-free window between the median dates. Measured at Boston Logan Intl Ap, MA (USW00014739), 1.6 mi from the city's census reference point, elev. 12 ft. NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals.

Freeze-date probabilities, three thresholds

ThresholdLast spring — 9 in 10 years past byLast spring — typical (median)Last spring — 1 in 10 years later thanFirst fall — 1 in 10 years byFirst fall — typical (median)First fall — 9 in 10 years by
36°F — near-freezing (frost can occur)April 6April 17May 1October 15October 29November 11
32°F — freezingMarch 25April 4April 17October 29November 9November 22
28°F — hard freezeMarch 15March 28April 6November 8November 21December 5

Measured at Boston Logan Intl Ap, MA (USW00014739), 1.6 mi from the city's census reference point, elev. 12 ft. NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals. Read each date column as odds over the 30-year record — e.g. "9 in 10 years past by" means only one spring in ten saw a later freeze than that date.

Frost-free windows (computed)

Window (32°F ends)OpensClosesLength
Cautious (1-in-10 freeze risk at each end)April 17October 29195 days
Typical (median freeze dates)April 4November 9219 days
Gambler's (9-in-10 freeze risk at each end)March 25November 22242 days

Pure arithmetic on the freeze-date percentiles above — the "cautious" window opens on the date only 1 year in 10 still sees a later spring freeze, and closes on the date by which only 1 year in 10 has already frozen.

About this city's numbers

More Massachusetts cities

Worcester · Springfield · Cambridge · Lowell · Brockton · Lynn · Quincy · New Bedford · all of Massachusetts →