Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Franklin, Massachusetts

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at West Medway, 3.5 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 30
First fall frostOct 9
162 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 301 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 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Franklin in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 30°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 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.

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 Franklin

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 22, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at West Medway. 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 11 · May 25 Sep 20 · Oct 1 · Oct 12 141 days
32°F freeze Apr 17 · Apr 30 · May 14 Sep 29 · Oct 9 · Oct 23 162 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 2 · Apr 16 · May 1 Oct 7 · Oct 22 · Nov 5 187 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00199316. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at West Medway

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 Franklin, MA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: West Medway (station USC00199316, elevation 210 ft), 3.5 mi from Franklin. 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 Franklin

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Woonsocket, RI 7.5 mi Apr 22 Oct 19
North Attleborough, MA 8.7 mi Apr 22 Oct 19
Attleboro, MA 12 mi Apr 27 Oct 15
Central Falls, RI 14 mi Apr 22 Oct 19
Pawtucket, RI 15 mi Apr 22 Oct 19
Framingham, MA 16 mi Apr 26 Oct 12
Providence, RI 18 mi Apr 11 Oct 30
Randolph, MA 19 mi Apr 18 Oct 26
Marlborough, MA 20 mi May 2 Oct 6
Brockton, MA 20 mi Apr 22 Oct 19

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Franklin?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Franklin is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 17.

When is the first frost in Franklin?

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 23.

Can it frost in Franklin 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 11.

What growing zone is Franklin?

Franklin 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 02038. See growing zones in Massachusetts.

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