Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Wilkes-Barre in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 30°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 54°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
4 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 54°F Above 36°F · Chance Rain Showers then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 45°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Sat, Nov 7 41°F Above 36°F · Rain Showers Likely
- Sun, Nov 8 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear then Slight Chance Light Rain
- Mon, Nov 9 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 30°F Freeze · 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 Wilkes-Barre
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 3, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Wilkes-Barre 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 21 · May 4 · May 22 | Sep 25 · Oct 7 · Oct 22 | 155 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 9 · Apr 23 · May 10 | Oct 4 · Oct 20 · Nov 4 | 178 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 30 · Apr 10 · Apr 26 | Oct 16 · Nov 3 · Nov 19 | 206 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Wilkes-Barre Intl Airport (station USW00014777, elevation 930 ft), 9.8 mi from Wilkes-Barre. 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 Wilkes-Barre
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston, PA | 1.2 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Swoyersville, PA | 3.7 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Plymouth, PA | 3.7 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Exeter, PA | 6.8 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Nanticoke, PA | 7.5 mi | May 7 | Oct 6 |
| Pittston, PA | 7.5 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Duryea, PA | 8.7 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Old Forge, PA | 11 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Moosic, PA | 12 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Taylor, PA | 13 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Wilkes-Barre?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Wilkes-Barre is around April 23. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 10, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 9.
When is the first frost in Wilkes-Barre?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 20. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 4 and a 90% chance by November 4.
Can it frost in Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre?
Wilkes-Barre 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 18701. See growing zones in Pennsylvania.
More: all Pennsylvania frost dates · Pennsylvania growing zones · UV index today in Wilkes-Barre · frost vs. freeze