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Will it freeze in Waterville 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 56°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 56°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 47°F Above 36°F · Light Rain
- Sat, Nov 7 39°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Sun, Nov 8 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
- Mon, Nov 9 33°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 33°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- 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 Waterville
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 24, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Waterville Trtmt Plt. 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 3 · May 14 · May 27 | Sep 19 · Oct 1 · Oct 11 | 137 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 23 · May 2 · May 14 | Sep 30 · Oct 10 · Oct 27 | 159 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 10 · Apr 22 · May 3 | Oct 7 · Oct 24 · Nov 7 | 183 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Waterville Trtmt Plt
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 Waterville, ME come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Waterville Trtmt Plt (station USC00179151, elevation 73 ft), 1.3 mi from Waterville. 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 Waterville
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta, ME | 15 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 16 |
| Gardiner, ME | 25 mi | May 1 | Oct 11 |
| Belfast, ME | 32 mi | May 7 | Oct 5 |
| Rockland, ME | 39 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 19 |
| Lewiston, ME | 40 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Auburn, ME | 43 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Bath, ME | 43 mi | May 10 | Oct 6 |
| Bangor, ME | 47 mi | May 4 | Oct 4 |
| Brewer, ME | 48 mi | May 4 | Oct 4 |
| Old Town, ME | 53 mi | May 13 | Sep 28 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Waterville?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Waterville is around May 2. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 23.
When is the first frost in Waterville?
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 27.
Can it frost in Waterville 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 14.
What growing zone is Waterville?
Waterville 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 04901. See growing zones in Maine.
More: all Maine frost dates · Maine growing zones · frost vs. freeze