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Will it freeze in Gardner 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 58°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 58°F Above 36°F · Patchy Fog then Chance Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 51°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Sat, Nov 7 39°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 26°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 Gardner
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 25, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ashburnham. 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 30 · May 14 · May 27 | Sep 22 · Oct 2 · Oct 15 | 142 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 19 · May 2 · May 16 | Oct 1 · Oct 13 · Oct 30 | 163 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 4 · Apr 18 · May 3 | Oct 9 · Oct 25 · Nov 10 | 189 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Ashburnham
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 Gardner, MA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ashburnham (station USC00190190, elevation 1,108 ft), 4.3 mi from Gardner. 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 Gardner
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitchburg, MA | 8.7 mi | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| Leominster, MA | 12 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 11 |
| Worcester, MA | 24 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 21 |
| Marlborough, MA | 28 mi | May 2 | Oct 6 |
| Nashua, NH | 28 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 8 |
| Keene, NH | 30 mi | May 14 | Oct 1 |
| Amherst, MA | 30 mi | May 5 | Oct 8 |
| Greenfield, MA | 31 mi | May 1 | Oct 11 |
| Palmer, MA | 32 mi | May 3 | Oct 14 |
| Framingham, MA | 34 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 12 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Gardner?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Gardner is around May 2. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 16, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 19.
When is the first frost in Gardner?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 13. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 1 and a 90% chance by October 30.
Can it frost in Gardner 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 14.
What growing zone is Gardner?
Gardner is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 01440. See growing zones in Massachusetts.
More: all Massachusetts frost dates · Massachusetts growing zones · frost vs. freeze