Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Watertown, Massachusetts

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Jamaica Plain, 5.3 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 19
First fall frostOct 23
185 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 191 year in 10 after May 3
First fall frostOct 231 year in 10 by Oct 8
Growing season185 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Watertown in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Watertown during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

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.

1 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 Watertown

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 3, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Jamaica Plain. 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 20 · May 2 · May 16 Sep 30 · Oct 10 · Oct 25 161 days
32°F freeze Apr 6 · Apr 19 · May 3 Oct 8 · Oct 23 · Nov 5 185 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 25 · Apr 5 · Apr 21 Oct 19 · Nov 3 · Nov 19 210 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00193890. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Jamaica Plain

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 Watertown, MA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Jamaica Plain (station USC00193890, elevation 95 ft), 5.3 mi from Watertown. 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 Watertown

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Newton, MA 3.1 mi Apr 19 Oct 23
Cambridge, MA 3.1 mi Apr 19 Oct 23
Waltham, MA 3.7 mi Apr 28 Oct 10
Somerville, MA 4.3 mi Apr 4 Nov 9
Medford, MA 5.0 mi Apr 4 Nov 9
Everett, MA 6.8 mi Apr 4 Nov 9
Malden, MA 7.5 mi Apr 4 Nov 9
Chelsea, MA 7.5 mi Apr 4 Nov 9
Woburn, MA 8.1 mi Apr 25 Oct 17
Boston, MA 8.7 mi Apr 4 Nov 9

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Watertown?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Watertown is around April 19. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 3, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 6.

When is the first frost in Watertown?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 23. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 8 and a 90% chance by November 5.

Can it frost in Watertown 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 2.

What growing zone is Watertown?

Watertown 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 02472. See growing zones in Massachusetts.

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