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Will it freeze in Whitefish in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 30°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST).
Tonight: forecast low 30°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
7 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 30°F Freeze · Slight Chance Light Rain then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
- Sun, Nov 8 31°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Mon, Nov 9 32°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Chance Light Rain then Patchy Fog
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly 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 Whitefish
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 7, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Whitefish. 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 21 · Jun 7 · Jun 29 | Aug 24 · Sep 10 · Sep 24 | 93 days |
| 32°F freeze | May 2 · May 16 · Jun 6 | Sep 8 · Sep 25 · Oct 8 | 129 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 19 · May 1 · May 14 | Sep 24 · Oct 7 · Oct 21 | 157 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Whitefish
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 Whitefish, MT come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Whitefish (station USC00248902, elevation 3,100 ft), 2.1 mi from Whitefish. 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 Whitefish
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Falls, MT | 8.7 mi | May 31 | Sep 10 |
| Kalispell, MT | 16 mi | May 31 | Sep 10 |
| Polson, MT | 53 mi | May 10 | Oct 5 |
| Sandpoint, ID | 102 mi | May 8 | Sep 28 |
| Missoula, MT | 109 mi | May 10 | Oct 1 |
| Hayden, ID | 122 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 18 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 124 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 18 |
| Rathdrum, ID | 126 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 18 |
| Post Falls, ID | 129 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 18 |
| Liberty Lake, WA | 138 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 15 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Whitefish?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Whitefish is around May 16. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after June 6, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 2.
When is the first frost in Whitefish?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 25. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 8 and a 90% chance by October 8.
Can it frost in Whitefish 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 June 7.
What growing zone is Whitefish?
Whitefish is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −20 to −15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 59937. See growing zones in Montana.
More: all Montana frost dates · Montana growing zones · frost vs. freeze