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Will it freeze in Sparks in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 32°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM PST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM PST).
Tonight: forecast low 32°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM PST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM PST.
2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 38°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 37°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Light Rain then 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 Sparks
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 23, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sparks. 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 | May 4 · May 23 · Jun 9 | Sep 16 · Oct 1 · Oct 11 | 129 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 17 · May 1 · May 25 | Sep 29 · Oct 10 · Oct 24 | 160 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 30 · Apr 16 · May 2 | Oct 7 · Oct 23 · Nov 6 | 186 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Sparks
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 Sparks, NV come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sparks (station USC00267697, elevation 4,357 ft), 1.6 mi from Sparks. 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 Sparks
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno, NV | 7.5 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 27 |
| Fernley, NV | 28 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| Carson City, NV | 29 mi | May 4 | Oct 6 |
| Truckee, CA | 30 mi | Jun 9 | Sep 25 |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | 47 mi | Jun 7 | Sep 28 |
| Fallon, NV | 50 mi | May 12 | Oct 1 |
| Grass Valley, CA | 75 mi | Apr 10 | Nov 13 |
| Susanville, CA | 76 mi | May 16 | Oct 8 |
| Placerville, CA | 82 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 21 |
| Auburn, CA | 86 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 5 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Sparks?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Sparks is around May 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 25, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 17.
When is the first frost in Sparks?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 10. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 29 and a 90% chance by October 24.
Can it frost in Sparks 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 23.
What growing zone is Sparks?
Sparks 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 89436. See growing zones in Nevada.
More: all Nevada frost dates · Nevada growing zones · UV index today in Sparks · frost vs. freeze