Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Metuchen, New Jersey

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Plainfield, 4.7 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 11
First fall frostOct 28
198 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 111 year in 10 after Apr 27
First fall frostOct 281 year in 10 by Oct 13
Growing season198 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 7a0 to 5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Metuchen in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Metuchen during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 62°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.

1 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 Metuchen

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 7, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Plainfield. 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 12 · Apr 27 · May 13 Oct 3 · Oct 17 · Nov 1 173 days
32°F freeze Mar 31 · Apr 11 · Apr 27 Oct 13 · Oct 28 · Nov 10 198 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 16 · Mar 31 · Apr 11 Oct 24 · Nov 7 · Nov 23 223 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00287079. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Plainfield

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 Metuchen, NJ come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Plainfield (station USC00287079, elevation 90 ft), 4.7 mi from Metuchen. 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 Metuchen

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
South Plainfield, NJ 3.7 mi Apr 11 Oct 28
Highland Park, NJ 4.3 mi Apr 15 Oct 26
Perth Amboy, NJ 5.0 mi Apr 15 Oct 26
Sayreville, NJ 5.6 mi Apr 15 Oct 26
South Amboy, NJ 5.6 mi Apr 15 Oct 26
Plainfield, NJ 5.6 mi Apr 11 Oct 28
New Brunswick, NJ 5.6 mi Apr 15 Oct 26
Rahway, NJ 6.2 mi Apr 11 Oct 31
Dunellen, NJ 6.2 mi Apr 11 Oct 28
South River, NJ 6.8 mi Apr 15 Oct 26

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Metuchen?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Metuchen is around April 11. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 27, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 31.

When is the first frost in Metuchen?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 28. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 13 and a 90% chance by November 10.

Can it frost in Metuchen 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 April 27.

What growing zone is Metuchen?

Metuchen is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 08840. See growing zones in New Jersey.

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