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Will it freeze in La Plata in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in La Plata during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
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.
No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.
- Tonight 61°F Above 36°F · Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
- Fri, Nov 6 49°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 37°F Above 36°F · 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 La Plata
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 6, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Mechanicsville 5 NE. 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 15 · Apr 30 · May 15 | Oct 3 · Oct 16 · Oct 31 | 170 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 31 · Apr 17 · May 2 | Oct 12 · Oct 27 · Nov 9 | 195 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 19 · Apr 2 · Apr 17 | Oct 24 · Nov 6 · Nov 23 | 219 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Mechanicsville 5 NE
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 La Plata, MD come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Mechanicsville 5 NE (station USC00185865, elevation 100 ft), 14 mi from La Plata. 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 La Plata
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dumfries, VA | 19 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
| Alexandria, VA | 20 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 18 |
| District Heights, MD | 22 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Leonardtown, MD | 24 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 26 |
| Chesapeake Beach, MD | 25 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
| Washington, DC | 25 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Falls Church, VA | 26 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 31 |
| Cheverly, MD | 27 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
| Glenarden, MD | 27 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 22 |
| Mount Rainier, MD | 27 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 8 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in La Plata?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in La Plata is around April 17. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 2, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 31.
When is the first frost in La Plata?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 27. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 12 and a 90% chance by November 9.
Can it frost in La Plata 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 April 30.
What growing zone is La Plata?
La Plata is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 5 to 10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 20646. See growing zones in Maryland.
More: all Maryland frost dates · Maryland growing zones · frost vs. freeze