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Will it freeze in Ellensburg in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 30°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM PST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM PST).
Tonight: forecast low 30°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM PST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM PST.
7 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 30°F Freeze · Areas Of Fog then Areas Of Freezing Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 34°F Frost possible · Chance Rain Showers then Areas Of Fog
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Areas Of Fog
- Sun, Nov 8 27°F Hard freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 30°F Freeze · Rain Showers Likely
- Tue, Nov 10 34°F Frost possible · Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 35°F Frost possible · Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly 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 Ellensburg
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 14, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ellensburg. 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 | May 8 · May 23 · Jun 16 | Sep 8 · Sep 21 · Oct 2 | 118 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 25 · May 8 · May 25 | Sep 20 · Oct 2 · Oct 14 | 146 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 9 · Apr 23 · May 6 | Oct 1 · Oct 14 · Oct 28 | 173 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Ellensburg
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 Ellensburg, WA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ellensburg (station USC00452505, elevation 1,480 ft), 2.2 mi from Ellensburg. 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 Ellensburg
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selah, WA | 24 mi | May 5 | Oct 4 |
| Yakima, WA | 28 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 23 |
| Union Gap, WA | 31 mi | May 8 | Oct 4 |
| East Wenatchee, WA | 32 mi | Apr 4 | Oct 28 |
| Wenatchee, WA | 32 mi | Apr 4 | Oct 28 |
| Quincy, WA | 37 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 16 |
| Toppenish, WA | 44 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 15 |
| Ephrata, WA | 52 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 17 |
| Sunnyside, WA | 54 mi | May 1 | Oct 6 |
| Grandview, WA | 60 mi | May 1 | Oct 6 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Ellensburg?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Ellensburg is around May 8. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 25, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 25.
When is the first frost in Ellensburg?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 2. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 20 and a 90% chance by October 14.
Can it frost in Ellensburg 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 23.
What growing zone is Ellensburg?
Ellensburg is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 98934. See growing zones in Washington.
More: all Washington frost dates · Washington growing zones · frost vs. freeze