Is Memorial Day safe to plant in New England?
New England gardeners often say to wait for Memorial Day (UNH Extension calls it a conservative estimate for central NH). We checked it against NOAA's 1991-2020 freeze normals for 246 stations. Last verified 2026-10-17.
- Memorial Day is the last Monday in May: it falls between May 25 and May 31.
- If Memorial Day is May 25, NOAA puts the chance of a later 32°F night under 10% at 171 of 246 stations.
- If it is May 31, that is true at 207 of 246 stations.
- Even "under 10%" means a freeze after that date can still happen in some years. Watch the forecast.
How computed: for each station we compare the date to NOAA's 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% last-32°F-freeze dates and report the band the date falls in (chance of a 32°F or colder night after that date). Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, UNH Extension.
| Station | Elev. (ft) | 10% risk date | Chance of 32°F after May 25 | Chance of 32°F after May 31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersville, CT | 686 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Barkhamsted, CT | 710 | May 15 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Bridgeport Sikorsky Mem AP, CT | 5 | Apr 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Burlington, CT | 505 | May 10 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Danbury, CT | 405 | May 6 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Danbury Muni AP, CT | 457 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Falls Village, CT | 550 | May 27 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Groton, CT | 40 | Apr 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Groton NEw London AP, CT | 10 | Apr 30 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hampton, CT | 490 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hartford Bradley Intl AP, CT | 190 | May 6 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hartford Brainard Fld, CT | 19 | May 1 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Meriden Markham Muni AP, CT | 103 | May 9 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Mt Carmel, CT | 180 | May 3 | under 10% | under 10% |
| New Haven Tweed AP, CT | 3 | May 1 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Norfolk 2 SW, CT | 1,340 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Norwich Public Utility Plt, CT | 20 | Apr 30 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Staffordville, CT | 736 | May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Stamford 5 N, CT | 190 | May 2 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Storrs, CT | 665 | May 3 | under 10% | under 10% |
| W Thompson Lake, CT | 360 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Willimantic Windham AP, CT | 247 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Amherst, MA | 145 | May 19 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Ashburnham, MA | 1,108 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Ashburnham N, MA | 1,146 | May 19 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Barre Falls Dam, MA | 825 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Bedford, MA | 160 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Bedford Hanscom Fld, MA | 133 | May 12 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Belchertown, MA | 550 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Beverly, MA | 65 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Beverly Muni AP, MA | 108 | May 6 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Birch Hill Dam, MA | 855 | May 19 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Blue Hill, MA | 625 | May 1 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Blue Hill Coop, MA | 625 | Apr 30 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Boston Logan Intl AP, MA | 12 | Apr 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Bridgewater, MA | 40 | May 15 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Brockton, MA | 75 | May 5 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Buffumville Lake, MA | 520 | May 13 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Chatham, MA | 40 | Apr 18 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Chatham Muni AP, MA | 68 | Apr 26 | under 10% | under 10% |
| E Brimfield Lake, MA | 700 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| E Wareham, MA | 30 | May 3 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Edgartown, MA | 30 | May 3 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Fitchburg Muni AP, MA | 348 | May 13 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Greenfield #3, MA | 130 | May 15 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Groveland, MA | 30 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Haverhill, MA | 20 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hingham, MA | 35 | May 8 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hyannis, MA | 60 | Apr 30 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hyannis Barnstable Muni AP, MA | 55 | May 5 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Jamaica Plain, MA | 95 | May 3 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Lawrence, MA | 50 | Apr 29 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Lawrence Muni AP, MA | 149 | May 1 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Lenox Dale, MA | 1,004 | May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Leverett #2, MA | 315 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Lowell, MA | 110 | May 10 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Marblehead, MA | 84 | May 13 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Maynard 2, MA | 205 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Middleboro, MA | 45 | May 6 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Middleton, MA | 110 | May 20 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Nantucket Mem AP, MA | 45 | Apr 27 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Natick, MA | 180 | May 9 | under 10% | under 10% |
| New Bedford Coop, MA | 18 | Apr 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| New Bedford Muni AP, MA | 80 | May 15 | under 10% | under 10% |
| North Adams Harriman AP, MA | 654 | May 25 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Norton W, MA | 95 | May 10 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Norwood Mem AP, MA | 50 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Orange Muni AP, MA | 555 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Pittsfield Muni AP, MA | 1,194 | May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Plymouth Muni AP, MA | 149 | May 12 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Plymouth-Kingston, MA | 45 | Apr 28 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Reading, MA | 110 | May 8 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Rochester, MA | 65 | May 7 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Southbridge 3 SW, MA | 685 | May 8 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Taunton, MA | 20 | May 6 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Taunton Muni AP, MA | 43 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Tully Lake, MA | 680 | May 8 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Vineyard Haven AP, MA | 68 | May 27 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Walpole 2, MA | 170 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| West Medway, MA | 210 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Westfield 3 SW, MA | 430 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Westfield Barnes Muni AP, MA | 271 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Worcester Rgnl AP, MA | 1,000 | May 5 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Worthington, MA | 1,285 | May 26 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Acadia Np, ME | 470 | May 8 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Augusta State AP, ME | 350 | May 7 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Bangor Intl AP, ME | 148 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Barnard, ME | 545 | May 26 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Bath, ME | 25 | May 23 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Belfast, ME | 20 | May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Bethel 6 SSE, ME | 790 | May 19 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Brassua Dam, ME | 1,069 | Jun 4 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Bridgewater, ME | 420 | Jun 7 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Bridgton 3 NW, ME | 508 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Brunswick Nas, ME | 70 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Caribou Muni AP, ME | 624 | May 24 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Corinna, ME | 297 | May 23 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Danforth, ME | 475 | Jun 8 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Dover-Foxcroft Wwtp, ME | 370 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Durham, ME | 140 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| East Hiram, ME | 528 | May 25 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Eastport, ME | 85 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Eustis, ME | 1,260 | Jun 6 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Farmington, ME | 405 | Jun 1 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Frenchville Aroostook AP, ME | 988 | May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Fryeburg E Slopes AP, ME | 445 | Jun 1 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Ft Kent, ME | 610 | Jun 6 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Gardiner, ME | 133 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Grand Lake Stream, ME | 290 | May 18 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Gray, ME | 378 | May 10 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Greenville Maine Forestry Svc, ME | 1,037 | May 20 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hartford, ME | 705 | May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hollis, ME | 304 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Houlton 5N, ME | 390 | Jun 2 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Houlton Intl AP, ME | 476 | Jun 10 | 50-70% | 30-50% |
| Jackman, ME | 1,214 | Jun 7 | 50-70% | 30-50% |
| Jonesboro, ME | 194 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Kennebunkport, ME | 20 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Lewiston, ME | 180 | May 6 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Limestone 4 NNW, ME | 737 | Jun 1 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Lincoln Sanitary District/Wtp, ME | 190 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Livermore Falls 1 E, ME | 380 | May 24 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Long Falls Dam, ME | 1,160 | May 27 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Madison, ME | 220 | May 20 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Middle Dam, ME | 1,460 | May 31 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Millinocket, ME | 360 | May 24 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Millinocket Muni AP, ME | 406 | May 24 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Millinocket Wastewater, ME | 360 | May 31 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Moosehead, ME | 1,037 | May 29 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| New Sharon, ME | 480 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Newcastle, ME | 213 | May 10 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Old Town 2 W, ME | 127 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Orono, ME | 115 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Patten 2, ME | 820 | May 30 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Pittston Farm, ME | 1,100 | Jun 3 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Poland, ME | 570 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Portland Intl Jetport, ME | 45 | May 7 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Presque Isle, ME | 599 | Jun 1 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Rangeley, ME | 1,530 | Jun 3 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Rangeley 2 NW, ME | 1,780 | Jun 5 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Robbinston, ME | 115 | May 18 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Rumford 1 SSE, ME | 630 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Rumford 6Sw, ME | 630 | May 27 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Sanford 2 NNW, ME | 289 | May 29 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Sebec Lake, ME | 380 | Jun 1 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Tenants Harbor, ME | 21 | May 8 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Topsfield 2, ME | 620 | May 18 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Turner, ME | 565 | May 13 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Van Buren 2, ME | 456 | Jun 5 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Vanceboro No 2, ME | 420 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| W Rockport 1 NNW, ME | 361 | May 9 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Waterville Trtmt Plt, ME | 73 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Wesley, ME | 410 | May 12 | under 10% | under 10% |
| West Buxton 2 NNW, ME | 220 | May 18 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Westport Island, ME | 90 | May 9 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Wiscasset AP, ME | 68 | May 20 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Woodland, ME | 123 | May 2 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Benton 5 SW, NH | 1,200 | Jun 3 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Berlin, NH | 920 | May 30 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Berlin Muni AP, NH | 1,158 | Jun 11 | 50-70% | 30-50% |
| Bethlehem 2, NH | 1,180 | Jun 8 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Colebrook 3Sw, NH | 1,120 | Jun 14 | 50-70% | 30-50% |
| Concord Muni AP, NH | 346 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Durham, NH | 75 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Durham 2 N, NH | 119 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Durham 2 SSW, NH | 63 | May 19 | under 10% | under 10% |
| E Milford, NH | 240 | May 12 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Epping, NH | 160 | May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| First Connecticut Lake, NH | 1,650 | Jun 8 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Grafton, NH | 830 | Jun 5 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Greenland, NH | 95 | May 18 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Greenville 1 NNE, NH | 900 | May 27 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Hanover, NH | 584 | May 15 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Hudson 1 SSE, NH | 185 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Jaffrey Muni AP, NH | 1,040 | May 20 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Jefferson, NH | 1,235 | May 23 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Keene, NH | 511 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Lakeport 2, NH | 500 | May 13 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Lancaster, NH | 860 | Jun 1 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Lebanon Muni AP, NH | 598 | May 24 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Manchester AP, NH | 225 | May 6 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Massabesic Lake, NH | 253 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Milford, NH | 320 | May 15 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Mt Sunapee, NH | 1,275 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| N Conway, NH | 522 | May 19 | under 10% | under 10% |
| N Stratford, NH | 950 | Jun 2 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Nashua 2 NNW, NH | 135 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Newport, NH | 770 | May 29 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Pinkham Notch, NH | 2,025 | Jun 1 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Plymouth, NH | 660 | Jun 4 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Rochester Skyhaven AP, NH | 323 | May 13 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Salisbury, NH | 550 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Tamworth 4, NH | 541 | May 30 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| W Hampstead, NH | 288 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Weare, NH | 720 | May 14 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Whitefield Mt Washington AP, NH | 1,074 | Jun 10 | 50-70% | 30-50% |
| York Pond, NH | 1,519 | Jun 6 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Kingston, RI | 117 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Kingston 1 NW, RI | 115 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Kingston 1 W, RI | 106 | May 18 | under 10% | under 10% |
| N Foster 1 E, RI | 630 | May 9 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Newport Rose, RI | 15 | Apr 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Newport State AP, RI | 172 | Apr 24 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Providence T F Green AP, RI | 60 | Apr 23 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Tiverton, RI | 90 | Apr 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Westerly State AP, RI | 81 | Apr 26 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Woonsocket, RI | 110 | May 6 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Barre Montpelier AP, VT | 1,126 | May 30 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Bennington Morse St AP, VT | 826 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Burlington Intl AP, VT | 330 | May 11 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Cavendish, VT | 842 | May 31 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Chelsea 2 NW, VT | 1,440 | May 24 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Corinth, VT | 1,180 | May 29 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Cornwall, VT | 345 | May 20 | under 10% | under 10% |
| E Haven, VT | 1,000 | Jun 11 | 50-70% | 30-50% |
| Eden 2 S, VT | 1,456 | May 20 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Enosburg Falls, VT | 420 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Enosburg Falls 2, VT | 425 | Jun 2 | 10-30% | 10-30% |
| Essex Junction 1 N, VT | 340 | May 17 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Island Pond, VT | 1,200 | Jun 3 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Jay Peak, VT | 1,840 | May 31 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Montpelier 2, VT | 530 | May 21 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Morrisville 4 SSW, VT | 760 | Jun 5 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Morrisville Stowe State AP, VT | 732 | Jun 4 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Mt Mansfield, VT | 3,950 | Jun 8 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| N Hartland Lake, VT | 570 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| N Springfield Lake, VT | 560 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Newport, VT | 790 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Northfield, VT | 670 | May 30 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Plainfield, VT | 800 | Jun 7 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Pownal 1 NE, VT | 1,110 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Rochester, VT | 830 | May 29 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Rutland, VT | 620 | May 31 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| S Hero, VT | 110 | May 10 | under 10% | under 10% |
| S Lincoln, VT | 1,341 | Jun 6 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Saint Johnsbury, VT | 700 | May 25 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Saint Johnsbury, VT | 700 | May 23 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Salisbury 2 N, VT | 420 | Jun 7 | 30-50% | 10-30% |
| Springfield Hartness AP, VT | 578 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| St Albans Radio, VT | 380 | May 16 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Sunderland 2, VT | 900 | May 28 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Sutton, VT | 1,500 | May 25 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Sutton 2Ne, VT | 1,000 | Jun 15 | 70-90% | 50-70% |
| Union Village Dam, VT | 460 | May 22 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Woodstock, VT | 600 | May 27 | 10-30% | under 10% |
| Worcester 2 W, VT | 1,360 | May 18 | under 10% | under 10% |