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Will it freeze in Olean in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sat, Nov 7: 32°F (Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 PM EST to Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 46°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 46°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 35°F Frost possible · Rain Showers
- Sat, Nov 7 32°F Freeze · Rain Showers
- Sun, Nov 8 30°F Freeze · Chance Rain Showers
- Mon, Nov 9 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 29°F Freeze · Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 25°F Hard freeze · Mostly 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 Olean
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 24, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Olean. 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 5 · May 20 · Jun 1 | Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 12 | 131 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 23 · May 7 · May 22 | Sep 29 · Oct 11 · Oct 25 | 156 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 14 · Apr 26 · May 9 | Oct 10 · Oct 24 · Nov 6 | 180 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Olean
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 Olean, NY come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Olean (station USC00306196, elevation 1,420 ft), 1.1 mi from Olean. 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 Olean
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford, PA | 14 mi | May 18 | Oct 4 |
| Salamanca, NY | 16 mi | May 18 | Oct 1 |
| Alfred, NY | 35 mi | May 18 | Oct 1 |
| Warren, PA | 40 mi | May 4 | Oct 21 |
| Jamestown, NY | 41 mi | May 8 | Oct 13 |
| Hornell, NY | 43 mi | May 11 | Oct 8 |
| St. Marys, PA | 43 mi | May 14 | Oct 6 |
| East Aurora, NY | 48 mi | May 7 | Oct 10 |
| Hamburg, NY | 48 mi | May 4 | Oct 17 |
| Fredonia, NY | 52 mi | Apr 25 | Nov 1 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Olean?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Olean is around May 7. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 22, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 23.
When is the first frost in Olean?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 11. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 29 and a 90% chance by October 25.
Can it frost in Olean 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 20.
What growing zone is Olean?
Olean 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 14760. See growing zones in New York.
More: all New York frost dates · New York growing zones · frost vs. freeze