Frost dates for Bethel 6 SSE, ME
At Bethel 6 SSE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 6 and the median first fall frost is Oct 2, for a typical growing season of 147 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 6Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 2First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 147 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 7 | May 19 | Jun 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 27 | May 6 | May 19 |
| 28°F | Apr 13 | Apr 25 | May 5 |
| 24°F | Apr 2 | Apr 13 | Apr 23 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 10 | Sep 22 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F | Sep 20 | Oct 2 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Nov 3 |
| 24°F | Oct 15 | Nov 1 | Nov 16 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 108 days | 125 days | 143 days |
| 32°F | 128 days | 147 days | 167 days |
| 28°F | 155 days | 175 days | 196 days |
| 24°F | 183 days | 201 days | 220 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04255 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 8 km |
| 04217 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 km |
| 04267 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 11 km |
| 04231 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 11 km |
| 04286 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 12 km |
| 04088 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 13 km |
| 04268 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 16 km |
| 04051 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 18 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00170583, at 44.3200, -70.7567, elevation 241 m (790 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 10 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 167.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Rumford 6sw (21 km)
- Bridgton 3 NW (28 km)
- Rumford 1 SSE (29 km)
- Hartford (36 km)
- Andover 2 (37 km)
- Fryeburg E Slopes Airport (40 km)
- Turner (40 km)
- Poland (47 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.