Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Essex Junction, Vermont

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Essex Junction 1 N, 1.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 2
First fall frostOct 11
160 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 21 year in 10 after May 17
First fall frostOct 111 year in 10 by Sep 30
Growing season160 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5a−20 to −15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Essex Junction in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sun, Nov 8: 32°F (Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 PM EST to Mon, Nov 9, 6:00 AM EST).

Tonight: forecast low 50°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.

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 Essex Junction

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 24, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Essex Junction 1 N. 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 May 1 · May 16 · May 30 Sep 19 · Oct 1 · Oct 13 137 days
32°F freeze Apr 21 · May 2 · May 17 Sep 30 · Oct 11 · Oct 26 160 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 9 · Apr 23 · May 5 Oct 8 · Oct 24 · Nov 7 183 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00432843. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Essex Junction 1 N

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 Essex Junction, VT come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Essex Junction 1 N (station USC00432843, elevation 340 ft), 1.2 mi from Essex Junction. 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 Essex Junction

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Winooski, VT 3.7 mi Apr 29 Oct 15
South Burlington, VT 5.0 mi Apr 29 Oct 15
Burlington, VT 6.2 mi Apr 29 Oct 15
Plattsburgh, NY 22 mi May 6 Oct 5
St. Albans, VT 22 mi May 1 Oct 12
Montpelier, VT 31 mi May 5 Oct 9
Barre, VT 36 mi May 16 Sep 29
Rutland, VT 62 mi May 15 Sep 27
Malone, NY 63 mi May 6 Oct 4
Lebanon, NH 73 mi May 9 Oct 6

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Essex Junction?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Essex Junction is around May 2. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 17, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 21.

When is the first frost in Essex Junction?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 11. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 30 and a 90% chance by October 26.

Can it frost in Essex Junction 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 16.

What growing zone is Essex Junction?

Essex Junction is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −20 to −15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 05439. See growing zones in Vermont.

More: all Vermont frost dates · Vermont growing zones · frost vs. freeze