Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Frederick, Maryland Weather

Night falls a minute earlier. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Frederick weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Frederick, MD
Sunday, August 2 at 10:57 AM
77
°
Overcast
Feels like
82°
Humidity
87%
Wind
10 mph
Sunrise
2:10 AM
Sunset
4:21 PM
Frederick, MD
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastFrederick, MD: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 73 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit with a 69% chance of precipitation at 5 PM.
L 73°H 83°
Frederick, MD
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Heavy Showers
    69%
    0.72″
    83°74°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Overcast
    36%
    —
    87°73°+4°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Overcast
    16%
    —
    85°68°-2°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Thunderstorm
    23%
    —
    84°67°-1°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Light Drizzle
    40%
    —
    93°72°+9°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Drizzle
    49%
    0.04″
    94°72°+1°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Light Drizzle
    47%
    —
    94°70°0°
Frederick, MD
Next 24 hours · Mild now
71°78°85°12p6p12a6anow 75°high 83°low 73°PRECIP %
Frederick, MD
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSE
149° · veering 74°
Direction
SSE
149°
Sustained
10
mph
Gust
21
mph
Peak 24h
26
avg 5 mph
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 5 mph · pk 26 mph @ 11:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 274SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 74° from the sse.
Frederick, MD
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
999.8
+0.8 mb in 3h · rising · 29.52 inHg
Now
999.8
mb
3h
+0.8
mb
12h
+0.1
mb
24h
-2.0
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 999–1002
9909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1001.5998.5999.5
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Frederick, MD
Air quality
41
AQI
Good
→0 in 6h▲Peak ~51 @ 9 PM

AQI 41 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM scrubbed by 4 hours of recent rain — PM2.5 down to 8.6 µg/m³, PM10 to 11.1 µg/m³.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 9 PM.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
8.6μg/m³
PM 10Good
11μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneModerate
92μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
3.2

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 43. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 43
UV peak
4.5 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 13

PM × Wind × Precip

PM scrubbed by 4 hours of recent rain — PM2.5 down to 8.6 µg/m³, PM10 to 11.1 µg/m³.

PM2.5/PM10
0.77
Wind
breezy
Recent rain
4h in last 6h
Pattern
washed out

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³540
Frederick, MD
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
31.2mi
UNLIMITED
79 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
14:57 UTC · Frederick, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
14:57 UTC · Frederick, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Frederick, MD
Satellite · infrared · animated
Frederick, MD
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Frederick, MD
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
5:41 AM
Sunrise
2:10 AM
Daylight
14h 11m
Sunset
4:21 PM
Civil dusk
8:52 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Frederick, MD
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:52 PM
Moonset
10:12 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Frederick, MD
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Night falls a minute earlier

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Frederick at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 14°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 13 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 21701, 21702, 21703, 21704, 21705

16-Day Forecast — Frederick

  1. Sun83°74°69%
  2. Mon87°73°36%
  3. Tue85°68°16%
  4. Wed84°67°23%
  5. Thu93°72°40%
  6. Fri94°72°49%
  7. Sat94°70°47%
  8. Sun99°71°26%
  9. Mon100°69°17%
  10. Tue91°70°17%
  11. Wed89°66°18%
  12. Thu97°71°34%
  13. Fri98°72°39%
  14. Sat94°72°39%
  15. Sun95°72°35%
  16. Mon92°70°29%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Frederick

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Frederick

SPC has placed Frederick in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

Sun & seasons in Frederick

Frederick sits in Frederick County, where the year’s longest day runs 14h 57m of daylight and its shortest just 9h 23m — a swing of +5h 34m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Baltimore, the state’s largest city, lies about 44 miles to the ESE. The nearest town Frederick tracks is Keedysville, roughly 16 miles to the WNW.

Air quality in Frederick’s county has trended dirtier since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2020 (median AQI 40). See the full air-quality history for Frederick.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

Night falls a minute earlier

Sunset retreats perceptibly — daylight shortening speeds up.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Frederick tops out in July (~79°F) and dips lowest in January (~35°F), with September wettest at 5.8 inches and January driest at 2.6 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January35°2.6″6
February38°3.0″5
March46°3.7″9
April57°3.5″7
May66°4.0″7
June74°4.3″7
July79°3.9″7
August77°2.9″5
September70°5.8″7
October58°3.3″4
November47°2.7″5
December39°4.0″7

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Frederick sees 35°F Januarys and 79°F Julys, a 44°F range, plus around 43.5 inches of precipitation across 76 days.

Rainfall in Frederick stays even across the calendar: September tops out at 5.8 inches over 7.3 rainy days, and January still logs 2.6 inches across 5.8 — a narrow range for Frederick. It is a balanced pattern Frederick shares with places like Ballenger Creek, MD, Spring Ridge, MD and Bartonsville, MD.

By mid-April the frosts ease in Frederick, opening the season for peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Warm-soil crops in Frederick wait about two weeks past Frederick's last frost, once the soil warms. Around mid-November, freezing nights resume in Frederick and tender crops must come in. Within Frederick, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Frederick's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Ballenger Creek, MD, Spring Ridge, MD, Bartonsville, MD, Walkersville, MD, Braddock Heights, MD.

Naturalist notes

Late May brings the distinctive calls of wood thrushes echoing through Frederick's woodlands as these migrants establish breeding territories.

June marks peak blooming season for elderberry shrubs, their flat-topped white flower clusters attracting numerous pollinators throughout the area.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Frederick?
In Frederick, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Frederick's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Frederick?
Frederick sees its heaviest rain in September (around 5.8 inches), part of roughly 44 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Frederick?
The warmest stretch in Frederick comes in July, around 79°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Frederick?
On average January is the chilliest month in Frederick, about 35°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Frederick?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-April in Frederick; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Frederick get?
Frederick averages about 76 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Frederick?
Frederick sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 35°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Frederick?
Frederick's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Frederick?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Frederick in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Frederick?
Current conditions for Frederick and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Frederick forecast updated?
The Frederick forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Frederick?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Frederick are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Frederick?
The next few days in Frederick's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Frederick, Maryland occupies a warm-summer humid continental zone, with January means near 35°F and July around 79°F — a 44°F swing.

Frederick sees close to 44 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 76 wet days.

At 39.4°N, Frederick's 44°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Frederick's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Maryland →

Washington, DC weather →

ZIP codes in Frederick

  • 21705
  • 21702
  • 21701
  • 21709

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.