Frost dates for Rochester, MA
At Rochester, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 23 and the median first fall frost is Oct 21, for a typical growing season of 180 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 7. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 7Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 21First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 180 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 24 | May 5 | May 20 |
| 32°F | Apr 10 | Apr 23 | May 7 |
| 28°F | Mar 30 | Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| 24°F | Mar 14 | Mar 30 | Apr 8 |
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 27 | Oct 9 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | Oct 6 | Oct 21 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 19 | Nov 3 | Nov 20 |
| 24°F | Nov 4 | Nov 18 | Dec 4 |
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 | 137 days | 156 days | 174 days |
| 32°F | 160 days | 180 days | 198 days |
| 28°F | 186 days | 207 days | 226 days |
| 24°F | 215 days | 235 days | 256 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02347 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 6 km |
| 02717 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 km |
| 02770 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 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 USC00196938, at 41.7850, -70.9175, elevation 20 m (65 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 115.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Middleboro (11 km)
- New Bedford Muni Airport (13 km)
- Taunton Muni Airport (13 km)
- Taunton (18 km)
- Bridgewater (19 km)
- E Wareham (21 km)
- Plymouth Muni Airport (21 km)
- New Bedford COOP (21 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.