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Will it freeze in Rochester in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Rochester during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 50°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 50°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 43°F Above 36°F · Rain Showers
- Sat, Nov 7 40°F Above 36°F · Rain Showers
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Chance Rain Showers
- Mon, Nov 9 41°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 35°F Frost possible · 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 Rochester
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 6, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Rochester Gtr Intl 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 23 · May 4 · May 19 | Sep 28 · Oct 11 · Oct 27 | 158 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 12 · Apr 24 · May 8 | Oct 8 · Oct 25 · Nov 7 | 181 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 1 · Apr 14 · Apr 26 | Oct 25 · Nov 6 · Nov 21 | 207 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Rochester Gtr Intl 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 Rochester, NY come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (station USW00014768, elevation 533 ft), 4.8 mi from Rochester. 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 Rochester
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Rochester, NY | 7.5 mi | May 2 | Oct 17 |
| Fairport, NY | 9.9 mi | May 2 | Oct 17 |
| Webster, NY | 11 mi | May 1 | Oct 20 |
| Hilton, NY | 12 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 30 |
| Brockport, NY | 17 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 30 |
| Canandaigua, NY | 26 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 22 |
| Geneseo, NY | 27 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 17 |
| Newark, NY | 28 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 21 |
| Albion, NY | 29 mi | May 1 | Oct 20 |
| Batavia, NY | 31 mi | May 3 | Oct 16 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Rochester?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Rochester is around April 24. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 8, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 12.
When is the first frost in Rochester?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 25. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 8 and a 90% chance by November 7.
Can it frost in Rochester 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 4.
What growing zone is Rochester?
Rochester is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 14605. See growing zones in New York.
More: all New York frost dates · New York growing zones · UV index today in Rochester · frost vs. freeze