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Will it freeze in Dover in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 32°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 59°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 59°F Above 36°F · Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 48°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 41°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
- Sun, Nov 8 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
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 Dover
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 2, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Boonton 1 SE. 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 17 · May 1 · May 18 | Oct 1 · Oct 12 · Oct 29 | 166 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 4 · Apr 17 · May 5 | Oct 8 · Oct 23 · Nov 6 | 189 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 21 · Apr 4 · Apr 18 | Oct 19 · Nov 2 · Nov 17 | 212 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Boonton 1 SE
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 Dover, NJ come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Boonton 1 SE (station USC00280907, elevation 280 ft), 8.5 mi from Dover. 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 Dover
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wharton, NJ | 1.2 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Rockaway, NJ | 2.5 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Mount Arlington, NJ | 5.0 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Morris Plains, NJ | 5.6 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Hopatcong, NJ | 6.8 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 19 |
| Morristown, NJ | 7.5 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 27 |
| Boonton, NJ | 8.1 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Bernardsville, NJ | 11 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| Kinnelon, NJ | 11 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 17 |
| Florham Park, NJ | 11 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 27 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Dover?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Dover is around April 17. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 5, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 4.
When is the first frost in Dover?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 23. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 8 and a 90% chance by November 6.
Can it frost in Dover 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 1.
What growing zone is Dover?
Dover is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 07801. See growing zones in New Jersey.
More: all New Jersey frost dates · New Jersey growing zones · frost vs. freeze