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Will it freeze in Salem in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 31°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 43°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 43°F Above 36°F · Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 31°F Freeze · Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 31°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 40°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 Salem
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 3, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Salem. 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 7 · Apr 21 · May 6 | Oct 3 · Oct 17 · Oct 28 | 176 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 25 · Apr 9 · Apr 23 | Oct 13 · Oct 26 · Nov 6 | 197 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 14 · Mar 30 · Apr 14 | Oct 23 · Nov 3 · Nov 20 | 219 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Salem
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 Salem, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Salem (station USC00117636, elevation 550 ft), 1.1 mi from Salem. 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 Salem
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia, IL | 11 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 24 |
| Mount Vernon, IL | 22 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 22 |
| Vandalia, IL | 25 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 24 |
| Greenville, IL | 29 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 24 |
| Highland, IL | 40 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 20 |
| Effingham, IL | 40 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 24 |
| Benton, IL | 42 mi | Apr 4 | Oct 28 |
| Du Quoin, IL | 46 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 22 |
| Mascoutah, IL | 46 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 20 |
| Hillsboro, IL | 47 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 24 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Salem?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Salem is around April 9. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 25.
When is the first frost in Salem?
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 6.
Can it frost in Salem 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 21.
What growing zone is Salem?
Salem is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 62881. See growing zones in Illinois.
More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · frost vs. freeze