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Will it freeze in Anchorage in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 22°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM AKST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM AKST).
Tonight: forecast low 22°F. Hard freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM AKST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM AKST.
7 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 22°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 25°F Hard freeze · Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Snow
- Sat, Nov 7 21°F Hard freeze · Slight Chance Light Snow then Mostly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 21°F Hard freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 24°F Hard freeze · Chance Light Snow
- Tue, Nov 10 25°F Hard freeze · Chance Light Snow
- Wed, Nov 11 25°F Hard freeze · Slight Chance Light Snow
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Anchorage
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 1, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Eagle Rvr Nature Center. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | May 19 · May 31 · Jul 2 | Aug 21 · Sep 6 · Sep 22 | 97 days |
| 32°F freeze | May 2 · May 16 · Jun 9 | Sep 4 · Sep 20 · Oct 3 | 125 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 16 · May 1 · May 15 | Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 16 | 154 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Eagle Rvr Nature Center
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Anchorage, AK come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Eagle Rvr Nature Center (station USC00502642, elevation 520 ft), 4.2 mi from Anchorage. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Anchorage
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasilla, AK | 29 mi | May 16 | Sep 23 |
| Palmer, AK | 30 mi | May 6 | Sep 25 |
| Kenai, AK | 77 mi | May 24 | Sep 12 |
| Homer, AK | 130 mi | May 10 | Sep 29 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Anchorage?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Anchorage is around May 16. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after June 9, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 2.
When is the first frost in Anchorage?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 20. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 4 and a 90% chance by October 3.
Can it frost in Anchorage after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 31.
What growing zone is Anchorage?
Anchorage is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −20 to −15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 99577. See growing zones in Alaska.
More: all Alaska frost dates · Alaska growing zones · UV index today in Anchorage · frost vs. freeze