Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Shelton, Washington

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Shelton Sanderson Field, 1.6 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 27
First fall frostOct 16
175 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 271 year in 10 after May 12
First fall frostOct 161 year in 10 by Oct 1
Growing season175 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 8b15 to 20°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Shelton in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 41°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM PST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM PST.

1 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 Shelton

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 4, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Shelton Sanderson Field. 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 28 · May 12 · May 29 Sep 16 · Oct 1 · Oct 18 141 days
32°F freeze Apr 6 · Apr 27 · May 12 Oct 1 · Oct 16 · Nov 7 175 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 3 · Mar 29 · Apr 25 Oct 12 · Nov 4 · Nov 29 219 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094227. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Shelton Sanderson Field

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 Shelton, WA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Shelton Sanderson Field (station USW00094227, elevation 271 ft), 1.6 mi from Shelton. 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 Shelton

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Olympia, WA 16 mi Apr 29 Oct 14
Tumwater, WA 19 mi Apr 29 Oct 14
Lacey, WA 19 mi Apr 29 Oct 14
DuPont, WA 24 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Steilacoom, WA 25 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Gig Harbor, WA 25 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
University Place, WA 27 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Lakewood, WA 28 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Fircrest, WA 28 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Bremerton, WA 29 mi Mar 29 Nov 14

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Shelton?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Shelton is around April 27. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 12, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 6.

When is the first frost in Shelton?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 16. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 1 and a 90% chance by November 7.

Can it frost in Shelton 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 12.

What growing zone is Shelton?

Shelton is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 15 to 20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 98584. See growing zones in Washington.

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