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Will it freeze in Northfield 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.
7 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 then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 26°F Hard freeze · Areas Of Fog
- Sat, Nov 7 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · 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 Northfield
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 13, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Faribault. 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 1 · May 15 · May 29 | Sep 12 · Sep 27 · Oct 9 | 135 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 22 · May 5 · May 19 | Sep 21 · Oct 5 · Oct 17 | 152 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 11 · Apr 26 · May 10 | Oct 1 · Oct 13 · Oct 27 | 170 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Faribault
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 Northfield, MN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Faribault (station USC00212721, elevation 970 ft), 11 mi from Northfield. 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 Northfield
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elko New Market, MN | 11 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| Faribault, MN | 12 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Lonsdale, MN | 12 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Farmington, MN | 14 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| Lakeville, MN | 16 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| Credit River, MN | 17 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| Apple Valley, MN | 20 mi | May 2 | Oct 5 |
| Rosemount, MN | 21 mi | May 2 | Oct 5 |
| New Prague, MN | 21 mi | May 2 | Oct 5 |
| Burnsville, MN | 22 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Northfield?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Northfield is around May 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 19, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 22.
When is the first frost in Northfield?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 21 and a 90% chance by October 17.
Can it frost in Northfield 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 15.
What growing zone is Northfield?
Northfield 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 55057. See growing zones in Minnesota.
More: all Minnesota frost dates · Minnesota growing zones · frost vs. freeze