Brighton plantation has some of the coolest summers among U.S. towns
The depth of winter brings overnight lows near 7°. Temperatures cover 69° across the year, low to high. In January, nights here are colder than in 97% of U.S. towns. The frost-free window for a garden runs roughly May 6 to October 7.
A year in Brighton plantation at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Brighton plantation’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Brighton plantation’s place in Maine beside it.
What a year in Brighton plantation feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 153 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 6 and the first by October 7. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at E Sangerville, ME, 21 miles from the town’s center, 340 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Brighton plantation’s center in zone 5a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −18°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 74 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Madison, ME, is heaviest from January through February, about 19 inches a month. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 49 inches a year; October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 124 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Brighton plantation
97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at E Sangerville, ME.
Living with Brighton plantation’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
153 frost-free days in zone 5a. The last frost comes by May 6 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 7.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 13 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Brighton plantation from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (42%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 32%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Brighton plantation and its neighbors
Solon the hottest July afternoons (78°, 2° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Brighton plantation’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brighton plantation, ME | 7° | 76° | 49" | 74" |
| Corinth, NY | 9° | 77° | 51" | 60" |
| Northfield, VT | 7° | 79° | 44" | 76" |
| Hillsborough, NH | 11° | 80° | 49" | 68" |
| Dalton, MA | 13° | 80° | 48" | 77" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Brighton plantation averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+4.2°).
A bigger shift than in 64% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Brighton plantation compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Brighton plantation’s place among Maine’s.
Brighton plantation weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Brighton plantation’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Madison, ME. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24° | 7° | 3.5" | 18.6" | 10 | 4° – 23° |
| February | 28° | 8° | 2.9" | 19.2" | 8 | 5° – 25° |
| March | 36° | 17° | 3.5" | 12.6" | 9 | 18° – 35° |
| April | 49° | 29° | 4.0" | 4.1" | 10 | 35° – 44° |
| May | 62° | 40° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 11 | 46° – 56° |
| June | 71° | 50° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 12 | 57° – 64° |
| July | 76° | 56° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 11 | 61° – 69° |
| August | 75° | 54° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 11 | 61° – 68° |
| September | 68° | 46° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 9 | 52° – 62° |
| October | 54° | 37° | 5.4" | 0.2" | 11 | 40° – 52° |
| November | 41° | 26° | 4.4" | 3.4" | 10 | 29° – 39° |
| December | 30° | 15° | 4.3" | 15.9" | 11 | 16° – 31° |
| Year | 51° | 32° | 48.6" | 74.0" | 124 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 5° to 25°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Brighton plantation’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Brighton plantation’s center.
- Snow: Madison, ME.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: E Sangerville, ME, 21 miles from the town’s center, 340 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Brighton plantation’s climate
What is the weather like in Brighton plantation?
A typical July afternoon reaches 76°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 74 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 97% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 98% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Brighton plantation in winter?
January nights average 7°. About 165 nights a year reach 32° or below and 14 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 4°.
How much snow does Brighton plantation get?
About 74 inches in a normal winter at Madison, ME, heaviest from January through February, about 19 inches a month.
How hot does it get in Brighton plantation?
July, with a typical high of 76° and a low of 56°. About 3 days a year reach 90° (E Sangerville, ME).
When is the first and last frost in Brighton plantation?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 6 and the first fall frost by October 7, about 153 frost-free days, at E Sangerville, ME.
What growing zone is Brighton plantation in?
Zone 5a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −18°.
What is the best time of year to visit Brighton plantation?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Brighton plantation getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.6° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 64% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Brighton plantation.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.