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Will it freeze in Amherst in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Mon, Nov 9: 32°F (Mon, Nov 9, 6:00 PM EST to Tue, Nov 10, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 61°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
4 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 61°F Above 36°F · Patchy Fog then Chance Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 54°F Above 36°F · Chance Light Rain
- Sat, Nov 7 43°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 27°F Hard freeze · 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 Amherst
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 21, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Amherst. 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 | May 3 · May 17 · May 30 | Sep 17 · Sep 30 · Oct 11 | 134 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 23 · May 5 · May 19 | Sep 28 · Oct 8 · Oct 23 | 156 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 9 · Apr 23 · May 7 | Oct 6 · Oct 21 · Nov 4 | 179 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Amherst
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 Amherst, MA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Amherst (station USC00190120, elevation 145 ft), 2.2 mi from Amherst. 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 Amherst
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton, MA | 8.7 mi | May 5 | Oct 8 |
| Easthampton, MA | 11 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Holyoke, MA | 12 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Chicopee, MA | 13 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Palmer, MA | 16 mi | May 3 | Oct 14 |
| Springfield, MA | 17 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Greenfield, MA | 18 mi | May 1 | Oct 11 |
| West Springfield, MA | 18 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Westfield, MA | 20 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Agawam, MA | 22 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Amherst?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Amherst is around May 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 19, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 23.
When is the first frost in Amherst?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 8. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 28 and a 90% chance by October 23.
Can it frost in Amherst 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 May 17.
What growing zone is Amherst?
Amherst is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −10 to −5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 01003. See growing zones in Massachusetts.
More: all Massachusetts frost dates · Massachusetts growing zones · UV index today in Amherst · frost vs. freeze