Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Franklin, New Jersey

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Sussex Airport, 6.6 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 1
First fall frostOct 12
164 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 11 year in 10 after May 18
First fall frostOct 121 year in 10 by Sep 30
Growing season164 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Franklin in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 31°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.

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 Franklin

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 25, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sussex Airport. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast 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 27 · May 13 · May 28 Sep 20 · Oct 2 · Oct 15 142 days
32°F freeze Apr 19 · May 1 · May 18 Sep 30 · Oct 12 · Oct 28 164 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 4 · Apr 19 · May 4 Oct 9 · Oct 25 · Nov 7 188 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00054793. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Sussex Airport

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 Franklin, NJ come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sussex Airport (station USW00054793, elevation 421 ft), 6.6 mi from Franklin. 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 Franklin

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Newton, NJ 9.3 mi Apr 24 Oct 16
Hopatcong, NJ 12 mi Apr 25 Oct 19
Mount Arlington, NJ 13 mi Apr 25 Oct 19
Kinnelon, NJ 14 mi Apr 25 Oct 17
Bloomingdale, NJ 14 mi Apr 19 Oct 23
Wharton, NJ 15 mi Apr 17 Oct 23
Butler, NJ 15 mi Apr 19 Oct 23
Rockaway, NJ 15 mi Apr 17 Oct 23
Dover, NJ 16 mi Apr 17 Oct 23
Warwick, NY 16 mi May 1 Oct 12

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Franklin?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Franklin is around May 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 19.

When is the first frost in Franklin?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 12. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 30 and a 90% chance by October 28.

Can it frost in Franklin 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 13.

What growing zone is Franklin?

Franklin 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 07416. See growing zones in New Jersey.

More: all New Jersey frost dates · New Jersey growing zones · frost vs. freeze