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Will it freeze in Braidwood in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 32°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 39°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 39°F Above 36°F · Patchy Drizzle then Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 Braidwood
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 6, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Channahon Dresden Island Dam. 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 15 · Apr 30 · May 14 | Oct 1 · Oct 15 · Oct 28 | 169 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 3 · Apr 16 · May 3 | Oct 13 · Oct 26 · Nov 8 | 191 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 20 · Apr 5 · Apr 19 | Oct 24 · Nov 6 · Nov 23 | 214 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Channahon Dresden Island Dam
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 Braidwood, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Channahon Dresden Island Dam (station USC00111420, elevation 505 ft), 9.3 mi from Braidwood. 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 Braidwood
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal City, IL | 3.1 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 26 |
| Wilmington, IL | 5.0 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 26 |
| Channahon, IL | 11 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 26 |
| Minooka, IL | 13 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 26 |
| Morris, IL | 13 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 23 |
| Manhattan, IL | 16 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 25 |
| Shorewood, IL | 17 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 25 |
| Joliet, IL | 17 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 25 |
| Bourbonnais, IL | 19 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
| Manteno, IL | 20 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Braidwood?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Braidwood is around April 16. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 3, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 3.
When is the first frost in Braidwood?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 26. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 13 and a 90% chance by November 8.
Can it frost in Braidwood 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 30.
What growing zone is Braidwood?
Braidwood is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 60408. See growing zones in Illinois.
More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · frost vs. freeze