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Will it freeze in Lancaster in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Lancaster during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 59°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 59°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Fri, Nov 6 47°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 42°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 35°F Frost possible · Partly 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 Lancaster
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 4, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Lancaster 2NE Fltr Plt. 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 19 · May 2 · May 20 | Oct 2 · Oct 13 · Oct 27 | 165 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 5 · Apr 19 · May 7 | Oct 9 · Oct 24 · Nov 6 | 186 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 22 · Apr 5 · Apr 24 | Oct 20 · Nov 4 · Nov 20 | 212 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Lancaster 2NE Fltr Plt
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 Lancaster, PA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Lancaster 2NE Fltr Plt (station USC00364763, elevation 270 ft), 1.5 mi from Lancaster. 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 Lancaster
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millersville, PA | 3.7 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
| Lititz, PA | 7.5 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| Columbia, PA | 11 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
| Ephrata, PA | 12 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| Mount Joy, PA | 12 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
| New Holland, PA | 12 mi | Apr 14 | Nov 1 |
| Elizabethtown, PA | 17 mi | Apr 9 | Nov 2 |
| Red Lion, PA | 19 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 19 |
| Lebanon, PA | 22 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 25 |
| York, PA | 24 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 19 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Lancaster?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Lancaster is around April 19. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 7, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 5.
When is the first frost in Lancaster?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 24. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 9 and a 90% chance by November 6.
Can it frost in Lancaster 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 2.
What growing zone is Lancaster?
Lancaster is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 17603. See growing zones in Pennsylvania.
More: all Pennsylvania frost dates · Pennsylvania growing zones · UV index today in Lancaster · frost vs. freeze