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Will it freeze in Bethel in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 26°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM AKST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM AKST).
Tonight: forecast low 26°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 26°F Hard freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 24°F Hard freeze · Slight Chance Light Snow then Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 21°F Hard freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 18°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 17°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 16°F Hard freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 16°F Hard freeze · Mostly Cloudy
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 Bethel
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 1, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Bethel Airport. 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 20 · Jun 2 · Jun 14 | Aug 23 · Sep 8 · Sep 22 | 97 days |
| 32°F freeze | May 8 · May 21 · Jun 2 | Sep 7 · Sep 22 · Oct 4 | 122 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 30 · May 11 · May 26 | Sep 19 · Oct 1 · Oct 15 | 143 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Bethel Airport
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 Bethel, AK come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Bethel Airport (station USW00026615, elevation 102 ft), 1.3 mi from Bethel. 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.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Bethel?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Bethel is around May 21. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after June 2, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 8.
When is the first frost in Bethel?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 22. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 7 and a 90% chance by October 4.
Can it frost in Bethel 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 June 2.
What growing zone is Bethel?
Bethel is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −30 to −25°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 99559. See growing zones in Alaska.
More: all Alaska frost dates · Alaska growing zones · frost vs. freeze