U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00182282 · Maryland

Frost Dates for Cumberland, MD

NOAA weather station Cumberland 2 (USC00182282), Maryland · elevation 730 ft (223 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 5only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1550% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2450% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season190 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Cumberland, MDSpring: a frost after April 2 in 9 years out of 10, after April 15 in half of the years, after May 5 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 9 in 1 year out of 10, before October 24 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 190 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 15First frost ~Oct 24Frost season at Cumberland, MDSpring: a frost after April 2 in 9 years out of 10, after April 15 in half of the years, after May 5 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 9 in 1 year out of 10, before October 24 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 190 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 15First frost ~Oct 24
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 5October 9
50% (typical)April 15October 24
90% (likely)April 2November 6
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
190 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 3
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 3

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 13 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 27 (3 days later). Frost-free season 193 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Cumberland: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 5, 20% April 28, 30% April 22, 40% April 18, 50% April 15, 60% April 12, 70% April 9, 80% April 6, 90% April 2. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 12, 2022 April 29, 2023 April 26, 2024 April 23, 2025 April 18, 2026 April 22.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 5Apr 15Apr 22021: May 122022: April 292023: April 262024: April 232025: April 182026: April 22Fall at Cumberland: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 9, 20% October 14, 30% October 18, 40% October 21, 50% October 24, 60% October 27, 70% October 30, 80% November 2, 90% November 6. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 20, 2023 November 1, 2024 October 28, 2025 October 26.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 9Oct 24Nov 62021: November 32022: October 202023: November 12024: October 282025: October 26
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021May 12November 3
2022April 29October 20
2023April 26November 1
2024April 23October 28
2025April 18October 26
2026April 22season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 190 days between the 50% dates in Cumberland, Maryland, span the period from April 15 to October 24 when a gardener faces an even chance of a light frost arriving later in spring or earlier in fall. The median light-frost dates are April 15, the point at which there is a 50 % probability a frost will occur later, and October 24, when there is a 50 % probability a frost will have occurred earlier.

The cautious spring date for setting out tender crops is May 5, which carries only a 10 % chance of a frost afterward, while the risky early option is April 2 with a 90 % chance of frost. In the autumn, the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops is October 9, offering a 10 % chance that a frost has already arrived; the gamble of waiting until November 6 faces a 90 % chance of frost.

A hard frost at 28 °F, represented by the median dates April 3 and November 3, can damage plants that survive a light 32 °F frost, making it a greater concern for growers.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 5" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 9" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Cumberland, MDNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Frostburg, MD — 10 mi; 2 — Keyser, WV — 20 mi; 3 — near Westernport, MD — 22 mi; 4 — Everett, PA — 33 mi; 5 — Oakland, MD — 38 mi.PAVA25 mi · 40 km1. Frostburg, MD — 10 mi12. Keyser, WV — 20 mi23. near Westernport, MD — 22 mi34. Everett, PA — 33 mi45. Oakland, MD — 38 mi5
  1. Frostburg, MD 10 mi (16 km)
  2. Keyser, WV 20 mi (33 km)
  3. near Westernport, MD 22 mi (36 km)
  4. Everett, PA 33 mi (53 km)
  5. Oakland, MD 38 mi (61 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 39.6419, -78.7561.