Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Tempe, Arizona

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Tempe Asu, 2.7 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostFeb 13
First fall frostDec 5
298 frost-free days
Last spring frostFeb 131 year in 10 after Mar 9
First fall frostDec 51 year in 10 by Nov 18
Growing season298 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 10a30 to 35°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Tempe in the next 6 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Tempe during the next 6 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 56°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.

No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 6 nights.

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 Tempe

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 19, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Tempe Asu. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast 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 Feb 14 · Mar 8 · Apr 7 Nov 7 · Nov 26 · Dec 9 259 days
32°F freeze Jan 12 · Feb 13 · Mar 9 Nov 18 · Dec 5 · Dec 24 298 days
28°F hard freeze Dec 19 · Jan 16 · Feb 19 Nov 27 · Dec 19 · Jan 19 337 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00028499. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Tempe Asu

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 Tempe, AZ come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Tempe Asu (station USC00028499, elevation 1,167 ft), 2.7 mi from Tempe. 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 Tempe

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Guadalupe, AZ 2.5 mi Feb 13 Dec 5
Chandler, AZ 8.7 mi Feb 13 Dec 5
Paradise Valley, AZ 11 mi Jan 6 Dec 26
Gilbert, AZ 12 mi Feb 1 Dec 11
Mesa, AZ 12 mi Feb 1 Dec 10
Phoenix, AZ 16 mi Jan 8 Dec 25
Glendale, AZ 18 mi Jan 20 Dec 15
Fountain Hills, AZ 19 mi Jan 6 Dec 28
Tolleson, AZ 19 mi Jan 7 Dec 24
Scottsdale, AZ 21 mi Jan 27 Dec 21

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Tempe?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Tempe is around February 13. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 9, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after January 12.

When is the first frost in Tempe?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 18 and a 90% chance by December 24.

Can it frost in Tempe 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 March 8.

What growing zone is Tempe?

Tempe is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 10a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 30 to 35°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 85282. See growing zones in Arizona.

More: all Arizona frost dates · Arizona growing zones · UV index today in Tempe · frost vs. freeze