Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Lake Wales, Florida

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Mountain Lake, 1.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostFeb 4
First fall frostJan 4
332 frost-free days
Last spring frostFeb 41 year in 10 after Mar 11
First fall frostJan 41 year in 10 by Dec 8
Growing season332 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 9b25 to 30°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Lake Wales in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Lake Wales during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 69°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.

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 Lake Wales

Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at Mountain Lake, according to NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals. Check the short-term forecast above during cold snaps.

TemperatureLast 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 Jan 22 · Feb 25 · Mar 20 Nov 29 · Dec 21 · Jan 17 301 days
32°F freeze Jan 1 · Feb 4 · Mar 11 Dec 8 · Jan 4 · Feb 10 332 days
28°F hard freeze Dec 27 · Jan 20 · Feb 21 Dec 17 · Jan 8 · Feb 14 365 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00085973. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Mountain Lake

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 Lake Wales, FL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Mountain Lake (station USC00085973, elevation 125 ft), 1.2 mi from Lake Wales. 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 Lake Wales

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Dundee, FL 6.8 mi Feb 4 Jan 4
Eagle Lake, FL 9.9 mi rare rare
Winter Haven, FL 12 mi rare rare
Haines City, FL 13 mi rare rare
Bartow, FL 14 mi Jan 24 Jan 7
Fort Meade, FL 17 mi Jan 24 Jan 7
Lake Alfred, FL 17 mi rare rare
Davenport, FL 17 mi rare rare
Auburndale, FL 18 mi rare rare
Avon Park, FL 24 mi Jan 28 Jan 8

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Lake Wales?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Lake Wales is around February 4. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 11, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after January 1.

When is the first frost in Lake Wales?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around January 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by December 8 and a 90% chance by February 10.

Can it frost in Lake Wales 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 February 25.

What growing zone is Lake Wales?

Lake Wales is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 25 to 30°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 33853. See growing zones in Florida.

More: all Florida frost dates · Florida growing zones · frost vs. freeze