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Will it freeze in West Chester in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in West Chester during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 60°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 60°F Above 36°F · Light Rain Likely
- Fri, Nov 6 48°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 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°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 West Chester
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at W Chester 2 NW. 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 7 · May 22 | Sep 27 · Oct 7 · Oct 22 | 152 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 10 · Apr 26 · May 11 | Oct 4 · Oct 18 · Nov 1 | 174 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 28 · Apr 11 · Apr 26 | Oct 14 · Oct 30 · Nov 11 | 198 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at W Chester 2 NW
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 West Chester, PA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: W Chester 2 NW (station USC00369464, elevation 375 ft), 1.7 mi from West Chester. 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 West Chester
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downingtown, PA | 6.2 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| Kennett Square, PA | 9.9 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| Coatesville, PA | 11 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 25 |
| Media, PA | 12 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 16 |
| Phoenixville, PA | 13 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 27 |
| Brookhaven, PA | 13 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 16 |
| Swarthmore, PA | 14 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| Chester, PA | 15 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 16 |
| Elsmere, DE | 16 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 4 |
| Ridley Park, PA | 16 mi | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in West Chester?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in West Chester is around April 26. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 11, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 10.
When is the first frost in West Chester?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 18. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 4 and a 90% chance by November 1.
Can it frost in West Chester 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 7.
What growing zone is West Chester?
West Chester 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 19383. See growing zones in Pennsylvania.
More: all Pennsylvania frost dates · Pennsylvania growing zones · frost vs. freeze