Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Fall River, Massachusetts

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at New Bedford Municipal Airport, 7.8 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 29
First fall frostOct 15
167 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 291 year in 10 after May 15
First fall frostOct 151 year in 10 by Oct 2
Growing season167 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 7a0 to 5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Fall River in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 31°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 6:00 AM EST).

Tonight: forecast low 62°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.

2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.

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 Fall River

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 28, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at New Bedford Municipal Airport. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

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 Apr 28 · May 12 · May 27 Sep 22 · Oct 3 · Oct 18 144 days
32°F freeze Apr 17 · Apr 29 · May 15 Oct 2 · Oct 15 · Oct 31 167 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 31 · Apr 15 · Apr 30 Oct 12 · Oct 28 · Nov 12 194 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094726. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at New Bedford Municipal 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 Fall River, MA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: New Bedford Municipal Airport (station USW00094726, elevation 80 ft), 7.8 mi from Fall River. 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 Fall River

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
New Bedford, MA 9.3 mi Apr 29 Oct 15
Taunton, MA 12 mi Apr 22 Oct 19
East Providence, RI 15 mi Apr 11 Oct 30
Warwick, RI 17 mi Apr 11 Oct 30
Attleboro, MA 17 mi Apr 27 Oct 15
Pawtucket, RI 17 mi Apr 22 Oct 19
Providence, RI 18 mi Apr 11 Oct 30
Bridgewater, MA 18 mi May 1 Oct 9
Central Falls, RI 19 mi Apr 22 Oct 19
Cranston, RI 21 mi Apr 11 Oct 30

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Fall River?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Fall River is around April 29. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 15, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 17.

When is the first frost in Fall River?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 15. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 2 and a 90% chance by October 31.

Can it frost in Fall River 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 12.

What growing zone is Fall River?

Fall River is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 02720. See growing zones in Massachusetts.

More: all Massachusetts frost dates · Massachusetts growing zones · UV index today in Fall River · frost vs. freeze