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Will it freeze in Salem in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Salem during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 63°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.
- Tonight 63°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Fri, Nov 6 50°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · 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 Salem
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 14, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Wilmington New Castle County Airport. 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 7 · Apr 21 · May 7 | Oct 8 · Oct 22 · Nov 3 | 183 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 26 · Apr 7 · Apr 21 | Oct 19 · Nov 1 · Nov 15 | 209 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 11 · Mar 27 · Apr 9 | Nov 1 · Nov 14 · Dec 1 | 234 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Wilmington New Castle County 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 Salem, NJ come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Wilmington New Castle County Airport (station USW00013781, elevation 79 ft), 9.9 mi from Salem. 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 Salem
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle, DE | 8.7 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 1 |
| Wilmington, DE | 12 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 4 |
| Elsmere, DE | 14 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 4 |
| Middletown, DE | 16 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| Bridgeton, NJ | 16 mi | Apr 10 | Nov 1 |
| Newark, DE | 17 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| Elkton, MD | 19 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 2 |
| Chester, PA | 20 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 16 |
| Smyrna, DE | 21 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Glassboro, NJ | 21 mi | Apr 8 | Nov 1 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Salem?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Salem is around April 7. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 21, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 26.
When is the first frost in Salem?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 1. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 19 and a 90% chance by November 15.
Can it frost in Salem 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 21.
What growing zone is Salem?
Salem is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 5 to 10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 08079. See growing zones in New Jersey.
More: all New Jersey frost dates · New Jersey growing zones · frost vs. freeze