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Will it freeze in Dover in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Dover during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 63°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
1 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 63°F Above 36°F · Chance Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 50°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
- Sat, Nov 7 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · 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 Dover
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 16, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Dover. 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 | Apr 3 · Apr 17 · May 5 | Oct 12 · Oct 25 · Nov 6 | 191 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 22 · Apr 4 · Apr 17 | Oct 23 · Nov 4 · Nov 18 | 214 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 8 · Mar 25 · Apr 5 | Nov 3 · Nov 16 · Dec 3 | 238 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Dover
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 Dover, DE come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Dover (station USC00072730, elevation 30 ft), 1.3 mi from Dover. 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 Dover
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smyrna, DE | 11 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Milford, DE | 18 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
| Middletown, DE | 22 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| Bridgeton, NJ | 24 mi | Apr 10 | Nov 1 |
| Denton, MD | 25 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
| Salem, NJ | 29 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| Millville, NJ | 30 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 23 |
| Chestertown, MD | 30 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 5 |
| Georgetown, DE | 34 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 6 |
| Elkton, MD | 35 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Dover?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Dover is around April 4. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 17, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 22.
When is the first frost in Dover?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 23 and a 90% chance by November 18.
Can it frost in Dover 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 April 17.
What growing zone is Dover?
Dover is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 5 to 10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 19901. See growing zones in Delaware.
More: all Delaware frost dates · Delaware growing zones · UV index today in Dover · frost vs. freeze