Frost dates for Southbridge 3 SW, MA
At Southbridge 3 SW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 25 and the median first fall frost is Oct 13, for a typical growing season of 168 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 8. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 25Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 8Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 13First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 168 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 27 | May 6 | May 20 |
| 32°F | Apr 14 | Apr 25 | May 8 |
| 28°F | Apr 3 | Apr 13 | Apr 24 |
| 24°F | Mar 19 | Apr 2 | Apr 12 |
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 24 | Oct 4 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | Oct 2 | Oct 13 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F | Oct 10 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 24°F | Oct 21 | Nov 6 | Nov 21 |
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 | 133 days | 149 days | 163 days |
| 32°F | 152 days | 168 days | 186 days |
| 28°F | 176 days | 193 days | 211 days |
| 24°F | 197 days | 217 days | 237 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01550 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 3 km |
| 06282 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 12 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 USC00197627, at 42.0583, -72.0722, elevation 209 m (685 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 14 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 147.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- E Brimfield Lake (7 km)
- Buffumville Lake (15 km)
- Worcester Regional Airport (29 km)
- Belchertown (34 km)
- Barre Falls Dam (41 km)
- Amherst (53 km)
- West Medway (53 km)
- Westfield Barnes Muni Airport (54 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.