Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Westminster, Maryland

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Hanover 4 SW, 13 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 24
First fall frostOct 20
177 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 241 year in 10 after May 11
First fall frostOct 201 year in 10 by Oct 6
Growing season177 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 7a0 to 5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Westminster in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 57°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.

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 Westminster

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 31, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Hanover 4 SW. 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 22 · May 7 · May 22 Sep 28 · Oct 8 · Oct 21 154 days
32°F freeze Apr 9 · Apr 24 · May 11 Oct 6 · Oct 20 · Nov 2 177 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 26 · Apr 9 · Apr 26 Oct 14 · Oct 31 · Nov 14 203 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00363665. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Hanover 4 SW

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 Westminster, MD come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Hanover 4 SW (station USC00363665, elevation 558 ft), 13 mi from Westminster. 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 Westminster

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Manchester, MD 8.1 mi Apr 19 Oct 25
Hampstead, MD 8.7 mi Apr 19 Oct 25
Taneytown, MD 9.9 mi Apr 22 Oct 20
Hanover, PA 16 mi Apr 24 Oct 20
Mount Airy, MD 16 mi Apr 14 Oct 29
New Freedom, PA 20 mi Apr 19 Oct 25
Walkersville, MD 21 mi Apr 2 Nov 6
Gettysburg, PA 21 mi Apr 24 Oct 21
Thurmont, MD 22 mi Apr 14 Oct 30
Frederick, MD 24 mi Apr 2 Nov 6

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Westminster?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Westminster is around April 24. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 11, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 9.

When is the first frost in Westminster?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 20. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 6 and a 90% chance by November 2.

Can it frost in Westminster 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 7.

What growing zone is Westminster?

Westminster is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 21157. See growing zones in Maryland.

More: all Maryland frost dates · Maryland growing zones · frost vs. freeze