U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00176937 · Maine

Frost Dates for Presque Isle, ME

NOAA weather station Presque Isle (USC00176937), Maine · elevation 599 ft (183 m) · hardiness zone 4b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter June 1only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMay 1450% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostSeptember 2650% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season131 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone4bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Presque Isle, MESpring: a frost after April 30 in 9 years out of 10, after May 14 in half of the years, after June 1 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 10 in 1 year out of 10, before September 26 in half of the years, before October 9 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 131 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~May 14First frost ~Sep 26Frost season at Presque Isle, MESpring: a frost after April 30 in 9 years out of 10, after May 14 in half of the years, after June 1 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 10 in 1 year out of 10, before September 26 in half of the years, before October 9 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 131 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~May 14First frost ~Sep 26
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 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)June 1September 10
50% (typical)May 14September 26
90% (likely)April 30October 9
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
131 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
May 1
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 6

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost May 11 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost September 28 (2 days later). Frost-free season 137 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 Presque Isle: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% June 1, 20% May 26, 30% May 22, 40% May 18, 50% May 14, 60% May 11, 70% May 7, 80% May 3, 90% April 30.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1Jun 1Jun 1May 14Apr 30Fall at Presque Isle: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 10, 20% September 16, 30% September 20, 40% September 23, 50% September 26, 60% September 29, 70% October 2, 80% October 5, 90% October 9.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Sep 1Oct 1Sep 10Sep 26Oct 9
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.

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date, April 30, carries a 90% chance of a light frost later, making it a gamble for Presque Isle gardeners.

The 50% date for light frost in spring is May 14, meaning there is an even chance of a frost occurring after this point. In fall, the 50% date is September 26. A cautious planting schedule therefore uses the June 1 date, which has only a 10% chance of a later frost, and the September 10 date, which has only a 10% chance of an earlier frost. The 50% hard-frost dates are May 1 in spring and October 6 in fall.

A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that would survive a 32 °F light frost, so it represents a more severe threat.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after June 1" 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 September 10" 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 Presque Isle, MENumbered nearest stations: 1 — Caribou, ME — 15 mi; 2 — Bridgewater, ME — 17 mi; 3 — Van Buren, ME — 36 mi; 4 — Houlton, ME — 38 mi; 5 — Fort Kent, ME — 49 mi.ME25 mi · 40 km1. Caribou, ME — 15 mi12. Bridgewater, ME — 17 mi23. Van Buren, ME — 36 mi34. Houlton, ME — 38 mi45. Fort Kent, ME — 49 mi5
  1. Caribou, ME 15 mi (24 km)
  2. Bridgewater, ME 17 mi (28 km)
  3. Van Buren, ME 36 mi (57 km)
  4. Houlton, ME 38 mi (61 km)
  5. Fort Kent, ME 49 mi (80 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 4b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 46.6539, -68.0089.