Frost dates for Belchertown, MA
At Belchertown, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 3 and the median first fall frost is Oct 14, for a typical growing season of 164 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 16. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- May 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 16Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 14First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 164 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 | Apr 30 | May 13 | May 25 |
| 32°F | Apr 21 | May 3 | May 16 |
| 28°F | Apr 7 | Apr 20 | May 4 |
| 24°F | Mar 26 | Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
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 23 | Oct 4 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | Oct 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | Oct 12 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 |
| 24°F | Oct 25 | Nov 7 | Nov 23 |
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 | 126 days | 144 days | 160 days |
| 32°F | 145 days | 164 days | 184 days |
| 28°F | 169 days | 189 days | 209 days |
| 24°F | 195 days | 214 days | 236 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01007 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 km |
| 01082 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 6 km |
| 01009 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 8 km |
| 01080 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 11 km |
| 01079 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 11 km |
| 01069 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 11 km |
| 01033 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 13 km |
| 01031 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 14 km |
| 01056 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 14 km |
| 01095 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 17 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 USC00190562, at 42.2797, -72.3483, elevation 168 m (550 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 12 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 143.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Amherst (20 km)
- Leverett #2 (24 km)
- E Brimfield Lake (26 km)
- Barre Falls Dam (31 km)
- Orange Muni Airport (33 km)
- Westfield Barnes Muni Airport (33 km)
- Southbridge 3 SW (34 km)
- Greenfield #3 (38 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.