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Will it freeze in Cortland in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sun, Nov 8: 32°F (Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 PM EST to Mon, Nov 9, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 45°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
5 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 45°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 41°F Above 36°F · Rain Showers Likely
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Rain Showers
- Sun, Nov 8 32°F Freeze · Chance Rain Showers then Chance Rain And Snow Showers
- Mon, Nov 9 31°F Freeze · Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 31°F Freeze · Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 26°F Hard freeze · Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers
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 Cortland
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 24, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Freeville 1 NE. 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 2 · May 19 · May 31 | Sep 16 · Sep 29 · Oct 11 | 131 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 23 · May 7 · May 23 | Sep 27 · Oct 8 · Oct 25 | 154 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 11 · Apr 25 · May 10 | Oct 6 · Oct 24 · Nov 5 | 181 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Freeville 1 NE
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 Cortland, NY come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Freeville 1 NE (station USC00303050, elevation 1,050 ft), 9.6 mi from Cortland. 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 Cortland
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca, NY | 20 mi | May 11 | Oct 3 |
| Auburn, NY | 30 mi | May 2 | Oct 18 |
| Syracuse, NY | 30 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 19 |
| Solvay, NY | 32 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 19 |
| Norwich, NY | 34 mi | May 13 | Oct 4 |
| Johnson City, NY | 35 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Endicott, NY | 35 mi | May 5 | Oct 12 |
| North Syracuse, NY | 37 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 19 |
| Binghamton, NY | 37 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Baldwinsville, NY | 39 mi | May 4 | Oct 11 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Cortland?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Cortland is around May 7. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 23.
When is the first frost in Cortland?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 8. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 27 and a 90% chance by October 25.
Can it frost in Cortland 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 19.
What growing zone is Cortland?
Cortland is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 13045. See growing zones in New York.
More: all New York frost dates · New York growing zones · frost vs. freeze