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Will it freeze in Austin in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 31°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 31°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
5 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 31°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 25°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 38°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 Austin
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 17, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Austin Waste Water Treatment Plant Facility. 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 26 · May 8 · May 21 | Sep 14 · Sep 27 · Oct 10 | 141 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 14 · Apr 30 · May 11 | Sep 22 · Oct 5 · Oct 19 | 158 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 4 · Apr 18 · May 1 | Oct 1 · Oct 17 · Oct 30 | 180 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Austin Waste Water Treatment Plant Facility
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 Austin, MN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Austin Waste Water Treatment Plant Facility (station USC00210355, elevation 1,199 ft), 1.2 mi from Austin. 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 Austin
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Lea, MN | 19 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 9 |
| Kasson, MN | 27 mi | May 12 | Sep 28 |
| Stewartville, MN | 27 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| Byron, MN | 30 mi | May 12 | Sep 28 |
| Owatonna, MN | 32 mi | May 5 | Oct 6 |
| Rochester, MN | 34 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| Mason City, IA | 38 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Waseca, MN | 39 mi | May 2 | Oct 4 |
| Clear Lake, IA | 42 mi | May 3 | Oct 1 |
| Charles City, IA | 45 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Austin?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Austin is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 11, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 14.
When is the first frost in Austin?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 22 and a 90% chance by October 19.
Can it frost in Austin 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 8.
What growing zone is Austin?
Austin is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −25 to −20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 55912. See growing zones in Minnesota.
More: all Minnesota frost dates · Minnesota growing zones · UV index today in Austin · frost vs. freeze