Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Fitchburg, Massachusetts

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

Last spring frostMay 1
First fall frostOct 9
162 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 11 year in 10 after May 14
First fall frostOct 91 year in 10 by Sep 29
Growing season162 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Fitchburg in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 29°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 6:00 AM EST).

Tonight: forecast low 59°F. Above 36°F.

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

3 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 Fitchburg

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 21, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Fitchburg Co-op. 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 30 · May 12 · May 26 Sep 17 · Oct 1 · Oct 11 140 days
32°F freeze Apr 19 · May 1 · May 14 Sep 29 · Oct 9 · Oct 26 162 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 5 · Apr 18 · May 1 Oct 5 · Oct 21 · Nov 7 186 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00192807. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Fitchburg Co-op

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 Fitchburg, MA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Fitchburg Co-op (station USC00192807, elevation 665 ft), 1.2 mi from Fitchburg. 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 Fitchburg

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Leominster, MA 6.2 mi Apr 29 Oct 11
Gardner, MA 8.7 mi May 2 Oct 13
Nashua, NH 19 mi Apr 29 Oct 8
Marlborough, MA 22 mi May 2 Oct 6
Worcester, MA 23 mi Apr 23 Oct 21
Lowell, MA 25 mi Apr 30 Oct 10
Framingham, MA 28 mi Apr 26 Oct 12
Manchester, NH 32 mi Apr 30 Oct 11
Waltham, MA 33 mi Apr 28 Oct 10
Methuen, MA 34 mi Apr 13 Oct 28

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Fitchburg?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Fitchburg is around May 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 19.

When is the first frost in Fitchburg?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 9. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 29 and a 90% chance by October 26.

Can it frost in Fitchburg 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 Fitchburg?

Fitchburg 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 01420. See growing zones in Massachusetts.

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