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Will it freeze in Middletown in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Middletown during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 62°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 62°F Above 36°F · Chance Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 49°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 38°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 35°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 Middletown
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 13, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Newark Ag Farm. 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 8 · Apr 22 · May 9 | Oct 9 · Oct 22 · Nov 4 | 183 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 26 · Apr 7 · Apr 21 | Oct 19 · Nov 2 · Nov 17 | 208 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 11 · Mar 27 · Apr 8 | Nov 1 · Nov 13 · Dec 1 | 231 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Newark Ag Farm
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 Middletown, DE come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Newark Ag Farm (station USC00076410, elevation 106 ft), 16 mi from Middletown. 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 Middletown
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smyrna, DE | 12 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Elkton, MD | 12 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| Salem, NJ | 16 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| Newark, DE | 16 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| New Castle, DE | 17 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| Elsmere, DE | 21 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 4 |
| Dover, DE | 22 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Havre de Grace, MD | 22 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 30 |
| Wilmington, DE | 22 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 4 |
| Chestertown, MD | 25 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 5 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Middletown?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Middletown is around April 7. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 21, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 26.
When is the first frost in Middletown?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 2. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 19 and a 90% chance by November 17.
Can it frost in Middletown 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 22.
What growing zone is Middletown?
Middletown 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 19730. See growing zones in Delaware.
More: all Delaware frost dates · Delaware growing zones · UV index today in Middletown · frost vs. freeze