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Will it freeze in Wilmington in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Wilmington 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.
No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.
- Tonight 62°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Fri, Nov 6 51°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 44°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 37°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 Wilmington
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Wilmington Porter Rsch. 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 6 · Apr 20 · May 7 | Oct 9 · Oct 24 · Nov 6 | 185 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 26 · Apr 7 · Apr 24 | Oct 21 · Nov 4 · Nov 19 | 209 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 13 · Mar 29 · Apr 10 | Nov 1 · Nov 15 · Dec 2 | 232 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Wilmington Porter Rsch
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 Wilmington, DE come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Wilmington Porter Rsch (station USC00079605, elevation 270 ft), 2.7 mi from Wilmington. 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 Wilmington
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elsmere, DE | 3.1 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 4 |
| New Castle, DE | 5.0 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| Chester, PA | 11 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 16 |
| Brookhaven, PA | 12 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 16 |
| Salem, NJ | 12 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| Kennett Square, PA | 12 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| Newark, DE | 12 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| Ridley Park, PA | 15 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| Media, PA | 15 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 16 |
| Swarthmore, PA | 15 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Wilmington?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Wilmington is around April 7. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 24, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 26.
When is the first frost in Wilmington?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 21 and a 90% chance by November 19.
Can it frost in Wilmington 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 20.
What growing zone is Wilmington?
Wilmington 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 19801. See growing zones in Delaware.
More: all Delaware frost dates · Delaware growing zones · UV index today in Wilmington · frost vs. freeze