Frost dates for Lowell, Massachusetts
In a typical year, Lowell’s last spring frost lands around Apr 30 and the first fall frost around Oct 10, a growing season of about 163 days. These are odds drawn from 30-year NOAA climate normals, not a promise. USDA zone 6b.
Right now the typical frost season has arrived; planting waits for spring.
| Odds | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | Apr 19 | Sep 30 |
| 50 percent | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
| 90 percent | May 10 | Oct 24 |
A 10 percent year is an early year, a 90 percent year a late one. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the 90 percent side of the last-frost band.
Soil in Lowell is typically around 49°F at 4 inches this time of year, estimated from the last two weeks of normal air temperatures.
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Common questions
When is the last frost in Lowell, Massachusetts?
Lowell’s last spring frost falls around April 30 in a typical year. One year in ten it is done by April 19, and one year in ten frost holds on until May 10. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the late side of that band.
When is the first fall frost in Lowell?
The first fall frost arrives around October 10 in a typical year, as early as September 30 in an early year and as late as October 24 in a late one.
How long is the growing season in Lowell?
About 163 days, counted between the typical last spring frost and the typical first fall frost.
What USDA zone is Lowell in?
Lowell is in USDA hardiness zone 6b under the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Dates come from 30-year NOAA climate normals for the nearest reporting station. They describe odds, not a forecast.
Nearby cities
- Nashua, NH (around Apr 30 to Oct 12)
- Cambridge, MA (around Apr 19 to Oct 23)
- Boston, MA (around Apr 4 to Nov 9)
- Manchester, NH (around Apr 30 to Oct 11)
- Worcester, MA (around Apr 23 to Oct 21)
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