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Will it freeze in Ithaca in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 32°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 48°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.
- Tonight 48°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 45°F Above 36°F · Rain Showers Likely
- Sat, Nov 7 39°F Above 36°F · Rain Showers
- Sun, Nov 8 37°F Above 36°F · Chance Rain Showers
- Mon, Nov 9 36°F Frost possible · Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 32°F Freeze · Slight Chance Rain 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 Ithaca
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 18, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ithaca Cornell University. 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 8 · May 24 · Jun 6 | Sep 10 · Sep 23 · Oct 6 | 122 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 27 · May 11 · May 26 | Sep 21 · Oct 3 · Oct 21 | 145 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 17 · Apr 30 · May 16 | Oct 1 · Oct 18 · Nov 4 | 169 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Ithaca Cornell University
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 Ithaca, NY come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ithaca Cornell University (station USC00304174, elevation 960 ft), 2.8 mi from Ithaca. 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 Ithaca
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cortland, NY | 20 mi | May 7 | Oct 8 |
| Horseheads, NY | 25 mi | May 9 | Oct 9 |
| Elmira, NY | 29 mi | May 6 | Oct 11 |
| Sayre, PA | 32 mi | May 6 | Oct 10 |
| Penn Yan, NY | 32 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 22 |
| Endicott, NY | 33 mi | May 5 | Oct 12 |
| Auburn, NY | 34 mi | May 2 | Oct 18 |
| Corning, NY | 35 mi | May 17 | Oct 2 |
| Johnson City, NY | 35 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Geneva, NY | 38 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 21 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Ithaca?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Ithaca is around May 11. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 26, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 27.
When is the first frost in Ithaca?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 3. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 21 and a 90% chance by October 21.
Can it frost in Ithaca 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 24.
What growing zone is Ithaca?
Ithaca is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −10 to −5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 14850. See growing zones in New York.
More: all New York frost dates · New York growing zones · UV index today in Ithaca · frost vs. freeze