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Will it freeze in Watford City in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 28°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 28°F. Hard 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 28°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 37°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 Watford City
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 7, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Watford City. 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 8 · May 19 · Jun 1 | Sep 8 · Sep 20 · Oct 1 | 122 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 28 · May 9 · May 22 | Sep 15 · Sep 27 · Oct 11 | 139 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 16 · Apr 30 · May 13 | Sep 23 · Oct 7 · Oct 22 | 160 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Watford City
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 Watford City, ND come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Watford City (station USC00329233, elevation 2,170 ft), 1.1 mi from Watford City. 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 Watford City
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williston, ND | 32 mi | May 21 | Sep 21 |
| Sidney, MT | 42 mi | May 11 | Sep 27 |
| Dickinson, ND | 66 mi | May 20 | Sep 22 |
| Minot, ND | 97 mi | May 10 | Oct 1 |
| Mandan, ND | 130 mi | May 13 | Sep 27 |
| Bismarck, ND | 135 mi | May 10 | Sep 30 |
| Miles City, MT | 155 mi | May 8 | Sep 30 |
| Belle Fourche, SD | 219 mi | May 10 | Sep 30 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Watford City?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Watford City is around May 9. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 22, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 28.
When is the first frost in Watford City?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 27. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 15 and a 90% chance by October 11.
Can it frost in Watford City 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 19.
What growing zone is Watford City?
Watford City is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −30 to −25°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 58854. See growing zones in North Dakota.
More: all North Dakota frost dates · North Dakota growing zones · frost vs. freeze