Frost dates for Barre Falls Dam, MA
At Barre Falls Dam, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 12 and the median first fall frost is Oct 1, for a typical growing season of 141 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 28. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- May 12Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 28Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 141 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 10 | May 25 | Jun 7 |
| 32°F | Apr 27 | May 12 | May 28 |
| 28°F | Apr 16 | Apr 29 | May 15 |
| 24°F | Apr 2 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 |
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 6 | Sep 22 | Oct 4 |
| 32°F | Sep 18 | Oct 1 | Oct 15 |
| 28°F | Sep 30 | Oct 10 | Oct 29 |
| 24°F | Oct 6 | Oct 25 | Nov 10 |
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 | 97 days | 118 days | 138 days |
| 32°F | 120 days | 141 days | 161 days |
| 28°F | 143 days | 165 days | 188 days |
| 24°F | 169 days | 191 days | 211 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01543 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 6 km |
| 01005 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 7 km |
| 01452 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 8 km |
| 01074 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 8 km |
| 01068 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 9 km |
| 01094 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 11 km |
| 01541 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 13 km |
| 01531 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 14 km |
| 01037 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 15 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 USC00190408, at 42.4281, -72.0275, elevation 252 m (825 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 19 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 176.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Worcester Regional Airport (22 km)
- Ashburnham (23 km)
- Birch Hill Dam (24 km)
- Fitchburg Muni Airport (26 km)
- Orange Muni Airport (27 km)
- Ashburnham N (27 km)
- Fitchburg COOP (28 km)
- Tully Lake (29 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.