Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Pawtucket in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Wed, Nov 11: 32°F (Wed, Nov 11, 6:00 PM EST to Thu, Nov 12, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 62°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 62°F Above 36°F · Chance Light Rain
- Fri, Nov 6 56°F Above 36°F · Light Rain
- Sat, Nov 7 43°F Above 36°F · Chance Light Rain
- Sun, Nov 8 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 32°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 Pawtucket
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 31, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Woonsocket. 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 5 · May 19 | Sep 26 · Oct 7 · Oct 23 | 156 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 9 · Apr 22 · May 6 | Oct 5 · Oct 19 · Nov 2 | 179 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 28 · Apr 7 · Apr 20 | Oct 16 · Oct 31 · Nov 14 | 205 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Woonsocket
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 Pawtucket, RI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Woonsocket (station USC00379423, elevation 110 ft), 9.7 mi from Pawtucket. 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 Pawtucket
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Falls, RI | 1.2 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 19 |
| Providence, RI | 4.3 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
| East Providence, RI | 5.0 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
| Attleboro, MA | 5.6 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
| North Attleborough, MA | 6.8 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 19 |
| Cranston, RI | 9.3 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
| Woonsocket, RI | 11 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 19 |
| Warwick, RI | 12 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 30 |
| Taunton, MA | 14 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 19 |
| Franklin, MA | 15 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Pawtucket?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Pawtucket is around April 22. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 6, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 9.
When is the first frost in Pawtucket?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 19. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 5 and a 90% chance by November 2.
Can it frost in Pawtucket 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 5.
What growing zone is Pawtucket?
Pawtucket 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 02860. See growing zones in Rhode Island.
More: all Rhode Island frost dates · Rhode Island growing zones · UV index today in Pawtucket · frost vs. freeze