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Will it freeze in Boulder in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Boulder during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 38°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 38°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 40°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 39°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 40°F Above 36°F · Partly 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 Boulder
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Boulder. 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 5 · May 17 · Jun 2 | Sep 13 · Sep 28 · Oct 10 | 130 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 24 · May 6 · May 18 | Sep 21 · Oct 5 · Oct 18 | 151 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 10 · Apr 27 · May 10 | Sep 30 · Oct 15 · Oct 30 | 171 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Boulder
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 Boulder, CO come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Boulder (station USC00050848, elevation 5,484 ft), 2.4 mi from Boulder. 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 Boulder
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville, CO | 6.8 mi | May 6 | Oct 5 |
| Superior, CO | 8.1 mi | May 6 | Oct 5 |
| Lafayette, CO | 8.1 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Erie, CO | 11 mi | May 7 | Oct 5 |
| Broomfield, CO | 12 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Longmont, CO | 12 mi | May 7 | Oct 5 |
| Westminster, CO | 14 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Arvada, CO | 14 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Frederick, CO | 16 mi | May 7 | Oct 5 |
| Northglenn, CO | 16 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Boulder?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Boulder is around May 6. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 24.
When is the first frost in Boulder?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 21 and a 90% chance by October 18.
Can it frost in Boulder 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 17.
What growing zone is Boulder?
Boulder is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −10 to −5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 80310. See growing zones in Colorado.
More: all Colorado frost dates · Colorado growing zones · UV index today in Boulder · frost vs. freeze