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Will it freeze in Punxsutawney in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 31°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 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.
5 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 · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 37°F Above 36°F · Chance Rain Showers
- Sat, Nov 7 36°F Frost possible · Light Rain Likely
- Sun, Nov 8 33°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 33°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 31°F 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 Punxsutawney
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 26, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Putneyville 2 SE Dam. 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 2 · May 21 · Jun 4 | Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 14 | 133 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 24 · May 10 · May 28 | Sep 30 · Oct 12 · Oct 27 | 155 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 15 · Apr 28 · May 19 | Oct 10 · Oct 26 · Nov 8 | 178 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Putneyville 2 SE Dam
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 Punxsutawney, PA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Putneyville 2 SE Dam (station USC00367229, elevation 1,280 ft), 16 mi from Punxsutawney. 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 Punxsutawney
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| DuBois, PA | 17 mi | May 6 | Oct 14 |
| Indiana, PA | 24 mi | May 8 | Oct 13 |
| Clearfield, PA | 29 mi | May 4 | Oct 11 |
| Tyrone, PA | 42 mi | May 13 | Oct 1 |
| St. Marys, PA | 42 mi | May 14 | Oct 6 |
| Altoona, PA | 42 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 21 |
| Johnstown, PA | 43 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 21 |
| Lower Burrell, PA | 46 mi | Apr 16 | Nov 2 |
| Hollidaysburg, PA | 47 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 20 |
| New Kensington, PA | 48 mi | Apr 16 | Nov 2 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Punxsutawney?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Punxsutawney is around May 10. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 28, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 24.
When is the first frost in Punxsutawney?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 12. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 30 and a 90% chance by October 27.
Can it frost in Punxsutawney 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 21.
What growing zone is Punxsutawney?
Punxsutawney 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 15767. See growing zones in Pennsylvania.
More: all Pennsylvania frost dates · Pennsylvania growing zones · frost vs. freeze