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Will it freeze in Bradford in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sat, Nov 7: 29°F (Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 PM EST to Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 43°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 43°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 34°F Frost possible · Light Rain Likely
- Sat, Nov 7 29°F Freeze · Light Rain
- Sun, Nov 8 27°F Hard freeze · Chance Rain Showers
- Mon, Nov 9 29°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 27°F Hard freeze · Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 23°F Hard 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 Bradford
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 17, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Bradford 4SW Rsch 5. 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 14 · May 29 · Jun 11 | Sep 10 · Sep 24 · Oct 6 | 118 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 30 · May 18 · May 31 | Sep 21 · Oct 4 · Oct 19 | 140 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 20 · May 4 · May 23 | Oct 1 · Oct 17 · Nov 2 | 164 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Bradford 4SW Rsch 5
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 Bradford, PA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Bradford 4SW Rsch 5 (station USC00360868, elevation 1,660 ft), 5.8 mi from Bradford. 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 Bradford
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olean, NY | 14 mi | May 7 | Oct 11 |
| Salamanca, NY | 15 mi | May 18 | Oct 1 |
| Warren, PA | 27 mi | May 4 | Oct 21 |
| Jamestown, NY | 32 mi | May 8 | Oct 13 |
| St. Marys, PA | 35 mi | May 14 | Oct 6 |
| Alfred, NY | 48 mi | May 18 | Oct 1 |
| Fredonia, NY | 48 mi | Apr 25 | Nov 1 |
| Dunkirk, NY | 50 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 23 |
| Corry, PA | 51 mi | May 7 | Oct 10 |
| Hamburg, NY | 53 mi | May 4 | Oct 17 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Bradford?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Bradford is around May 18. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 31, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 30.
When is the first frost in Bradford?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 21 and a 90% chance by October 19.
Can it frost in Bradford 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 29.
What growing zone is Bradford?
Bradford 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 16725. See growing zones in Pennsylvania.
More: all Pennsylvania frost dates · Pennsylvania growing zones · frost vs. freeze