Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Oak Ridge Atdd, 3.4 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 5
First fall frostNov 1
210 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 51 year in 10 after Apr 19
First fall frostNov 11 year in 10 by Oct 19
Growing season210 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 7b5 to 10°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Oak Ridge in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Oak Ridge during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 47°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.

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 Oak Ridge

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 11, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Oak Ridge Atdd. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast 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 3 · Apr 17 · May 2 Oct 10 · Oct 23 · Nov 4 189 days
32°F freeze Mar 19 · Apr 5 · Apr 19 Oct 19 · Nov 1 · Nov 13 210 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 2 · Mar 23 · Apr 9 Oct 31 · Nov 11 · Nov 28 235 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003841. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Oak Ridge Atdd

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 Oak Ridge, TN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Oak Ridge Atdd (station USW00003841, elevation 905 ft), 3.4 mi from Oak Ridge. 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 Oak Ridge

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Farragut, TN 8.7 mi Apr 5 Nov 1
Lenoir City, TN 11 mi Apr 5 Nov 1
Clinton, TN 13 mi Mar 31 Nov 4
Kingston, TN 14 mi Apr 3 Nov 4
Harriman, TN 16 mi Apr 3 Nov 4
Loudon, TN 16 mi Apr 5 Nov 1
Knoxville, TN 19 mi Apr 11 Oct 28
Alcoa, TN 21 mi Apr 1 Nov 2
Rockwood, TN 22 mi Apr 8 Oct 31
Maryville, TN 23 mi Apr 1 Nov 2

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Oak Ridge?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Oak Ridge is around April 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 19, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 19.

When is the first frost in Oak Ridge?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 1. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 19 and a 90% chance by November 13.

Can it frost in Oak Ridge 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 April 17.

What growing zone is Oak Ridge?

Oak Ridge is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 5 to 10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 37830. See growing zones in Tennessee.

More: all Tennessee frost dates · Tennessee growing zones · UV index today in Oak Ridge · frost vs. freeze