Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for University Place, Washington

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Tacoma Narrows Airport, 3.9 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMar 11
First fall frostNov 21
254 frost-free days
Last spring frostMar 111 year in 10 after Apr 2
First fall frostNov 211 year in 10 by Nov 3
Growing season254 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 8b15 to 20°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in University Place in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 44°F. Above 36°F.

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

No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.

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 University Place

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 11, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Tacoma Narrows Airport. 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 Mar 26 · Apr 11 · May 2 Oct 21 · Nov 4 · Nov 19 204 days
32°F freeze Feb 15 · Mar 11 · Apr 2 Nov 3 · Nov 21 · Dec 10 254 days
28°F hard freeze Jan 1 · Feb 13 · Mar 8 Nov 18 · Dec 11 · Jan 19 307 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094274. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Tacoma Narrows Airport

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 University Place, WA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Tacoma Narrows Airport (station USW00094274, elevation 292 ft), 3.9 mi from University Place. 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 University Place

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Fircrest, WA 1.9 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Lakewood, WA 3.7 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Steilacoom, WA 3.7 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Tacoma, WA 5.0 mi Mar 8 Nov 14
DuPont, WA 8.7 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Gig Harbor, WA 8.7 mi Mar 11 Nov 21
Fife, WA 9.3 mi Mar 8 Nov 14
Milton, WA 11 mi Mar 8 Nov 14
Federal Way, WA 12 mi Mar 8 Nov 14
Puyallup, WA 12 mi Apr 11 Oct 30

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in University Place?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in University Place is around March 11. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 2, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after February 15.

When is the first frost in University Place?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 21. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 3 and a 90% chance by December 10.

Can it frost in University Place 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 11.

What growing zone is University Place?

University Place 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 98466. See growing zones in Washington.

More: all Washington frost dates · Washington growing zones · UV index today in University Place · frost vs. freeze