U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00185934 · Maryland

Frost Dates for Millers, MD

NOAA weather station Millers 4 NE (USC00185934), Maryland · elevation 860 ft (262 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 8only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season188 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Millers, MDSpring: a frost after April 4 in 9 years out of 10, after April 19 in half of the years, after May 8 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 8 in 1 year out of 10, before October 25 in half of the years, before November 7 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 188 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 25Frost season at Millers, MDSpring: a frost after April 4 in 9 years out of 10, after April 19 in half of the years, after May 8 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 8 in 1 year out of 10, before October 25 in half of the years, before November 7 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 188 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 25
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 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 8October 8
50% (typical)April 19October 25
90% (likely)April 4November 7
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
188 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 5
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 4

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 17 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 27 (2 days later). Frost-free season 192 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 Millers: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 8, 20% May 1, 30% April 26, 40% April 22, 50% April 19, 60% April 15, 70% April 12, 80% April 9, 90% April 4. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 23, 2022 April 29, 2023 April 25, 2024 April 22, 2025 April 17, 2026 April 21.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 8Apr 19Apr 42021: April 232022: April 292023: April 252024: April 222025: April 172026: April 21Fall at Millers: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 8, 20% October 13, 30% October 17, 40% October 22, 50% October 25, 60% October 28, 70% October 31, 80% November 3, 90% November 7. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 1, 2024 October 17, 2025 October 26.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 8Oct 25Nov 72021: November 32022: October 192023: November 12024: October 172025: 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
2021April 23November 3
2022April 29October 19
2023April 25November 1
2024April 22October 17
2025April 17October 26
2026April 21season not over yet

What these dates mean

In Millers, Maryland the two 32°F 50% dates are 188 days apart, framing the season when tender crops can be grown.

The 50% spring date, April 19, marks an even chance that a light frost will occur later; the 50% fall date, October 25, marks an even chance a light frost will occur earlier. Gardeners who wish to limit risk should aim to set out tender crops after the cautious spring date of May 8, which carries only a 10 % chance of a later frost, and should finish harvesting tender crops before the cautious fall date of October 8, which also carries a 10 % chance of an earlier frost. Planting on April 4 or keeping crops until November 7 would involve a 90 % chance of frost and is therefore a gamble.

A hard frost, recorded at 28°F, can cause more severe damage than a light frost at 32°F, so its 50% dates—April 5 in spring and November 4 in fall—are important reference points.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 8" 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 8" 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 Millers, MDNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Emmitsburg, MD — 26 mi; 2 — Biglerville, PA — 28 mi; 3 — near Middletown, PA — 33 mi; 4 — Landisville, PA — 34 mi; 5 — near Lancaster, PA — 36 mi.MDDE25 mi · 40 km1. Emmitsburg, MD — 26 mi12. Biglerville, PA — 28 mi23. near Middletown, PA — 33 mi34. Landisville, PA — 34 mi45. near Lancaster, PA — 36 mi5
  1. Emmitsburg, MD 26 mi (41 km)
  2. Biglerville, PA 28 mi (45 km)
  3. near Middletown, PA 33 mi (53 km)
  4. Landisville, PA 34 mi (55 km)
  5. near Lancaster, PA 36 mi (58 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: 39.7194, -76.8028.