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Will it freeze in Norfolk 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.
3 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 31°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 41°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 41°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 Norfolk
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Norfolk 4W. 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 28 · May 9 · May 24 | Sep 15 · Sep 27 · Oct 8 | 140 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 16 · May 1 · May 16 | Sep 22 · Oct 4 · Oct 18 | 156 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 6 · Apr 21 · May 5 | Sep 28 · Oct 15 · Oct 27 | 176 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Norfolk 4W
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 Norfolk, NE come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Norfolk 4W (station USC00255997, elevation 1,545 ft), 3.0 mi from Norfolk. 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 Norfolk
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne, NE | 26 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 11 |
| Columbus, NE | 41 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 15 |
| Schuyler, NE | 44 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 15 |
| Vermillion, SD | 58 mi | May 3 | Oct 3 |
| Yankton, SD | 60 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 11 |
| South Sioux City, NE | 60 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Sergeant Bluff, IA | 61 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Sioux City, IA | 62 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Fremont, NE | 63 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
| Wahoo, NE | 70 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Norfolk?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Norfolk is around May 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 16, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 16.
When is the first frost in Norfolk?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 22 and a 90% chance by October 18.
Can it frost in Norfolk 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 9.
What growing zone is Norfolk?
Norfolk 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 68701. See growing zones in Nebraska.
More: all Nebraska frost dates · Nebraska growing zones · UV index today in Norfolk · frost vs. freeze