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Will it freeze in Lowell in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 28°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 60°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 60°F Above 36°F · Chance Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 54°F Above 36°F · Light Rain
- Sat, Nov 7 42°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 28°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 Lowell
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 22, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Lowell. 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 9 · May 21 | Sep 21 · Oct 1 · Oct 12 | 144 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 19 · Apr 30 · May 10 | Sep 30 · Oct 10 · Oct 24 | 164 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 7 · Apr 18 · Apr 29 | Oct 9 · Oct 22 · Nov 5 | 187 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Lowell
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 Lowell, MA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Lowell (station USC00194313, elevation 110 ft), 2.2 mi from Lowell. 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 Lowell
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, MA | 9.3 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
| Methuen, MA | 9.9 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 28 |
| Nashua, NH | 11 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 8 |
| Woburn, MA | 14 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 17 |
| Haverhill, MA | 16 mi | May 1 | Oct 12 |
| Waltham, MA | 18 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 10 |
| Medford, MA | 19 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 9 |
| Melrose, MA | 19 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 17 |
| Peabody, MA | 19 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 17 |
| Malden, MA | 20 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 9 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Lowell?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Lowell is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 10, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 19.
When is the first frost in Lowell?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 10. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 30 and a 90% chance by October 24.
Can it frost in Lowell 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 9.
What growing zone is Lowell?
Lowell 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 01851. See growing zones in Massachusetts.
More: all Massachusetts frost dates · Massachusetts growing zones · UV index today in Lowell · frost vs. freeze