Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Gainesville in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Gainesville during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 68°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 68°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Areas Of Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 63°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 56°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 56°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 54°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Tue, Nov 10 56°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 55°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Rain Showers
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 Gainesville
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 25, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Gainesville Regional Airport. 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 | Feb 27 · Mar 17 · Apr 7 | Nov 3 · Nov 19 · Dec 9 | 246 days |
| 32°F freeze | Feb 1 · Mar 3 · Mar 23 | Nov 12 · Dec 2 · Jan 1 | 277 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Jan 9 · Feb 12 · Mar 14 | Nov 25 · Dec 25 · Jan 26 | 312 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Gainesville Regional Airport
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 Gainesville, FL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Gainesville Regional Airport (station USW00012816, elevation 123 ft), 4.3 mi from Gainesville. 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 Gainesville
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alachua, FL | 11 mi | Mar 4 | Dec 4 |
| Newberry, FL | 15 mi | Mar 4 | Dec 4 |
| High Springs, FL | 17 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 22 |
| Starke, FL | 23 mi | Feb 8 | Dec 24 |
| Ocala, FL | 37 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
| Lake City, FL | 39 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 28 |
| Palatka, FL | 40 mi | Jan 31 | Jan 4 |
| Macclenny, FL | 43 mi | Mar 8 | Dec 1 |
| Green Cove Springs, FL | 45 mi | Feb 1 | Jan 5 |
| Belleview, FL | 46 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Gainesville?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Gainesville is around March 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after February 1.
When is the first frost in Gainesville?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 2. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 12 and a 90% chance by January 1.
Can it frost in Gainesville 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 17.
What growing zone is Gainesville?
Gainesville is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 20 to 25°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 32605. See growing zones in Florida.
More: all Florida frost dates · Florida growing zones · UV index today in Gainesville · frost vs. freeze