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Will it freeze in Sanford 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 · Mostly Cloudy then Chance Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 51°F Above 36°F · Light Rain
- Sat, Nov 7 40°F Above 36°F · Light Rain
- Sun, Nov 8 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 34°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 Sanford
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 7, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sanford 2 Nnw. 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 | May 15 · May 26 · Jun 6 | Sep 6 · Sep 20 · Oct 1 | 114 days |
| 32°F freeze | May 2 · May 16 · May 29 | Sep 18 · Sep 30 · Oct 10 | 136 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 21 · May 2 · May 17 | Sep 28 · Oct 7 · Oct 24 | 157 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Sanford 2 Nnw
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 Sanford, ME come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sanford 2 Nnw (station USC00177479, elevation 289 ft), 2.5 mi from Sanford. 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 Sanford
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somersworth, NH | 14 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Rochester, NH | 14 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Dover, NH | 17 mi | May 3 | Oct 10 |
| Biddeford, ME | 19 mi | May 9 | Oct 3 |
| Saco, ME | 19 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| Portsmouth, NH | 25 mi | May 4 | Oct 8 |
| South Portland, ME | 27 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| Westbrook, ME | 28 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| Portland, ME | 30 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
| Laconia, NH | 38 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 18 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Sanford?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Sanford is around May 16. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 29, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 2.
When is the first frost in Sanford?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 30. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 18 and a 90% chance by October 10.
Can it frost in Sanford 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 26.
What growing zone is Sanford?
Sanford 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 04073. See growing zones in Maine.
More: all Maine frost dates · Maine growing zones · frost vs. freeze