First Frost Dates 2026: When Should You Expect the First Frost of Fall?

From the northern Rockies in September to the Gulf Coast in late November, the first frost of fall arrives on a very different schedule depending on where you live. Here’s when you can typically expect the first frost—and what gardeners should do before it arrives.

For gardeners, farmers, and anyone who keeps an eye on the changing seasons, the first frost of fall is one of the surest signs that colder weather is taking hold.

In parts of Alaska, the northern Rockies, and high-elevation areas of the West, freezing temperatures can arrive before September is even over. Across much of the Midwest and Northeast, October is the key month. Farther south, the first freeze may hold off until November or December—or may hardly occur at all.

So, when is the first frost in 2026 where you live?

The map above provides a broad regional guide based on historical first-frost and first-freeze patterns. For a more precise estimate, use our Farmers’ Almanac Average First Frost Dates by City, which includes hundreds of locations across the United States.

What Is the “First Frost”?

The terms frost and freeze are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same thing.

A freeze occurs when the measured air temperature falls to 32°F or lower. NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information uses the 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals to estimate when the first widespread fall freeze usually occurs across the country.

Frost, on the other hand, refers to ice crystals forming on surfaces such as grass, leaves, and car windshields. Frost can sometimes appear even when the official air temperature is several degrees above 32°F because temperatures right at ground level can be colder than readings taken several feet above the ground. The National Weather Service notes that this is why frost may develop on clear, calm nights with official temperatures in the mid-30s.

For gardening purposes, Farmers’ Almanac traditionally uses average light-frost dates, generally associated with temperatures around 29°F to 32°F. These dates are based on the 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.

Frost and Freeze Temperatures

As a general rule:

• Frost conditions: Frost may form with reported air temperatures around 33°F–36°F under clear, calm conditions.
• Light freeze: 29°F–32°F. Tender vegetation can be damaged or killed.
• Moderate freeze: 25°F–28°F. Many garden plants can suffer significant damage.
• Hard or severe freeze: Around 24°F or colder. Most unprotected tender vegetation is likely to be killed.

The National Weather Service generally issues a Freeze Warning when temperatures of 32°F or below are expected during the locally defined growing season.

First Frost Dates 2026: A Regional Guide

These are average ranges, not predictions for a particular night in 2026. Your actual first frost could arrive earlier or later depending on weather patterns, elevation, proximity to water, and even where your garden sits in the landscape.

Wondering what this winter looks like after the frost arrives? See the Farmers' Almanac 2026–2027 Winter Weather Forecast for the zone-by-zone outlook.

Late August Through Mid-September

Most likely areas:
Far northern locations, high elevations, Alaska, and parts of the interior Mountain West.

Some of the coldest parts of the country can see freezing temperatures remarkably early. NOAA notes that portions of the high mountains and far northern United States can experience their first freeze before August 31.

Examples from Farmers’ Almanac climate-normal data include:

• Nome, Alaska: around August 26
• Fairbanks, Alaska: around September 4
• Ely, Nevada: around September 7
• Baker, Oregon: around September 9
• Idaho Falls, Idaho: around September 12
• Bozeman, Montana: around September 16
• Lake Placid, New York: around September 16

Gardeners in high mountain valleys should pay especially close attention. Elevation can make frost arrive much earlier than it does in nearby lower terrain.

Mid-September Through Early October

Most likely areas:
Northern Plains, northern Rockies, Upper Midwest, northern New England, and colder interior portions of the West.

By late September, frost becomes increasingly common across states such as North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Wyoming, Idaho, and northern New England.

Typical first-frost dates include:

• Bismarck, North Dakota: about September 23
• Great Falls, Montana: about September 25
• Duluth, Minnesota: about September 26
• Concord, New Hampshire: about September 29
• Bangor, Maine: about September 30
• Billings, Montana: about October 1

This is also when gardeners across northern growing zones should be prepared to harvest or protect tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers, beans, squash, and other frost-sensitive plants.

Early October Through Late October

Most likely areas:
Much of the Midwest, central Plains, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, interior Northeast, higher portions of the Mid-Atlantic, and much of the interior Pacific Northwest.

October is the heart of first-frost season for a large portion of the United States.

Examples include:

• Denver, Colorado: about October 6
• Cedar Rapids, Iowa: about October 7
• Albany, New York: about October 9
• Omaha, Nebraska: about October 12
• Des Moines, Iowa: about October 14
• Indianapolis, Indiana: about October 21
• Columbus, Ohio: about October 22
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: about October 22

Even within the same state, first-frost dates can differ by several weeks. Lake influence, elevation, city heat, and terrain all matter.

Late October Through Mid-November

Most likely areas:
Lower Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, much of the central and upper South, parts of California, and milder coastal locations.

By Halloween, colder nights begin reaching considerably farther south.

Typical dates include:

• Charlotte, North Carolina: about October 30
• Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina: about October 31
• Dover, Delaware: about October 31
• Birmingham, Alabama: about November 3
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: about November 5
• Washington, D.C.: about November 12
• Atlanta, Georgia: about November 13
• New York City: about November 14

Coastal locations often remain frost-free longer than nearby inland areas because large bodies of water cool more slowly in autumn.

Mid-November Through Early December

Most likely areas:
Deep South, Gulf Coast, southern Texas, warmer desert regions, and some mild coastal areas of the West.

Across much of the South, the growing season can continue well into November.

Examples include:

• Shreveport, Louisiana: about November 11
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana: about November 17
• Savannah, Georgia: about November 21
• Mobile, Alabama: about November 28
• Las Vegas, Nevada: about November 28
• Tucson, Arizona: about November 30
• Fresno, California: about December 6
• Sacramento, California: about December 7

December or Later—and Places Where Frost Is Rare

Parts of southern Florida, the Florida Keys, coastal Southern California, low desert Arizona, and Hawaii can remain frost-free for much or all of the year.

Even there, however, unusual cold snaps are possible.

Farmers’ Almanac climate-normal data puts the average first fall frost around:

• Phoenix, Arizona: December 30
• Orlando, Florida: approximately January 1
• Tampa, Florida: approximately January 3

Higher elevations in Hawaii can occasionally approach or fall below freezing, while freezing temperatures are exceptionally rare near sea level.

Your First Frost Date Is an Average—Not a Deadline

This is perhaps the most important thing to remember.

An average first frost date does not mean frost will occur on that exact date every year.

The dates in the Farmers’ Almanac frost tables are based on historical climate data. Our chart uses a probability level under which frost can still occur either before or after the listed date.

In other words, if your average first frost is October 15, don’t assume your tomatoes are guaranteed to be safe until October 14.

An early Canadian cold front, a clear calm night, or a particularly chilly air mass can move frost season ahead of schedule.

Likewise, an unusually warm autumn can delay the first freeze for weeks.

Why Your Neighbor May Get Frost When You Don’t

Frost can be surprisingly local.

Two gardens only a mile apart can experience different temperatures because of:

Elevation

Higher elevations are generally colder, which is why mountain communities often have much earlier frost dates than nearby valleys.

Low-Lying Areas

Cold air is heavier than warm air and tends to settle into valleys, hollows, and depressions. These areas are often called frost pockets.

Cities

Concrete, pavement, buildings, and other structures store daytime heat and release it slowly overnight. This urban heat island effect can help cities remain frost-free longer than nearby rural communities.

Lakes and Oceans

Water changes temperature more slowly than land. Coastal locations and areas near the Great Lakes may experience later fall freezes than inland locations at the same latitude.

Clouds and Wind

Clear, calm nights are especially favorable for frost because heat escapes rapidly from the ground.

A cloudy night can sometimes stay warmer because clouds help trap outgoing heat.

What Plants Need Protection From the First Frost?

Tender warm-season plants can suffer serious damage even from a light freeze.

Protect or Harvest These Before Frost

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Basil
• Cucumbers
• Beans
• Summer squash
• Melons
• Tender annual flowers

If frost is in the forecast, harvest ripe vegetables and bring container plants indoors when practical.

For plants that need to remain outside, see our complete guide to protecting outdoor plants from frost and freezing temperatures.

Plants That Can Handle a Light Frost

Not everything in the garden needs to come inside.

Cool-season vegetables are considerably tougher, including:

• Kale
• Spinach
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Brussels sprouts
• Parsnips
• Leeks

Some vegetables—particularly kale, carrots, parsnips, and other cool-season crops—may even taste sweeter after exposure to cold weather.

If you’re still planting, our guide to planting a fall vegetable garden explains how to count backward from your first-frost date when choosing crops.

You can also consult the Farmers’ Almanac Planting Calendar for seasonal gardening dates and traditional Gardening by the Moon guidance.

What To Do When Frost Is Forecast

When your local forecast finally shows temperatures dipping into the mid-30s, it is time to pay attention.

A few simple precautions can extend the growing season:

Cover tender plants before sunset. Old sheets, frost cloth, blankets, or other breathable coverings can help hold warmth from the soil around the plant.

Water the soil earlier in the day. Moist soil can retain and release more heat overnight than very dry soil.

Move containers indoors. Potted plants cool faster than plants rooted in the ground.

Harvest tender vegetables. Pick tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, and squash before a freeze.

Watch low spots in the yard. Frost may develop there even when your porch thermometer remains above freezing.

And always check your local National Weather Service forecast when cold weather approaches. A Frost Advisory indicates that frost may damage sensitive vegetation, while a Freeze Warning generally means temperatures of 32°F or colder are expected during the growing season.

When Does Fall Officially Begin in 2026?

Meteorologists consider fall to begin on September 1, while astronomical fall begins with the autumnal equinox later in September.

That distinction helps explain why the first frost may occur before “fall” has even officially arrived on the astronomical calendar in some northern and high-elevation locations.

Read our explanation of meteorological fall versus astronomical fall.

Find Your Average First Frost Date

The national map is a helpful overview, but frost is ultimately a local event.

Before harvesting your garden, planting fall vegetables, or covering flowers, check the average date for a city near you:

Find your local date: Farmers’ Almanac Average First Frost Dates by City.

And remember: an average frost date is a guide, not a guarantee. Keep an eye on your local forecast once nighttime temperatures begin dipping into the 30s.

The first frost may mark the end of summer’s garden, but for many cold-hardy crops—and for anyone who loves crisp mornings, colorful leaves, and the changing seasons—it is one of the unmistakable signs that fall has truly arrived.

Average First Frost Dates for Major US Cities

The table below lists average first fall frost dates for major cities across the United States, based on the 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals. These are the dates when temperatures typically drop to 32°F ("light freeze") for the first time in autumn. Actual dates vary by year, elevation, and local microclimate.

City	State	Avg First Frost	USDA Zone	Range (Early–Late)
Anchorage	AK	September 14	4b–5a	Aug 26–Oct 4
Fairbanks	AK	August 28	2b–3a	Aug 10–Sep 16
Duluth	MN	September 27	4a–4b	Sep 6–Oct 14
Minneapolis	MN	October 8	4b–5a	Sep 20–Oct 24
Fargo	ND	October 1	4a–4b	Sep 12–Oct 19
Burlington	VT	October 3	5a–5b	Sep 12–Oct 21
Portland	ME	October 8	5b–6a	Sep 20–Oct 22
Concord	NH	September 22	5a–5b	Sep 1–Oct 9
Syracuse	NY	October 10	5b–6a	Sep 22–Oct 24
Albany	NY	October 7	5b–6a	Sep 16–Oct 24
New York City	NY	November 11	7a–7b	Oct 23–Nov 25
Boston	MA	October 27	6a–6b	Oct 10–Nov 13
Hartford	CT	October 10	6a–6b	Sep 22–Oct 24
Providence	RI	October 28	6a–7a	Oct 10–Nov 12
Philadelphia	PA	November 6	7a–7b	Oct 18–Nov 22
Pittsburgh	PA	October 15	6a–6b	Sep 27–Nov 1
Baltimore	MD	November 12	7a–7b	Oct 25–Nov 27
Washington, D.C.	DC	November 9	7a–7b	Oct 21–Nov 24
Richmond	VA	October 26	7a–7b	Oct 7–Nov 10
Raleigh	NC	November 7	7b–8a	Oct 17–Nov 22
Charlotte	NC	November 5	7b–8a	Oct 16–Nov 19
Asheville	NC	October 17	6b–7a	Sep 29–Nov 2
Atlanta	GA	November 19	7b–8a	Oct 31–Dec 7
Nashville	TN	October 31	7a–7b	Oct 13–Nov 17
Knoxville	TN	October 29	7a–7b	Oct 10–Nov 15
Memphis	TN	November 10	7b–8a	Oct 22–Nov 25
Birmingham	AL	November 13	7b–8a	Oct 26–Nov 29
Jackson	MS	November 15	8a–8b	Oct 27–Dec 2
New Orleans	LA	December 5	8b–9a	Nov 14–Dec 26
Baton Rouge	LA	November 22	8b–9a	Nov 3–Dec 11
Miami	FL	Frost rare	10a–11a	Frost possible only in severe cold snaps
Jacksonville	FL	December 16	9a–9b	Nov 22–Jan 8
Orlando	FL	January 6	9b–10a	Dec 2–Feb 9
Columbia	SC	November 1	7b–8a	Oct 13–Nov 17
Charleston	SC	November 28	8a–8b	Nov 6–Dec 20
Columbus	OH	October 18	6a–6b	Sep 30–Nov 3
Cleveland	OH	October 27	6a–6b	Oct 7–Nov 11
Cincinnati	OH	October 17	6b–7a	Oct 1–Nov 1
Indianapolis	IN	October 15	6a–6b	Sep 27–Oct 31
Chicago	IL	October 28	5b–6b	Oct 7–Nov 12
Detroit	MI	October 20	6a–6b	Oct 1–Nov 6
Milwaukee	WI	October 16	5b–6b	Sep 27–Nov 3
Madison	WI	October 9	5a–5b	Sep 20–Oct 25
Green Bay	WI	October 5	5a–5b	Sep 15–Oct 21
Des Moines	IA	October 12	5b–6a	Sep 23–Oct 27
Omaha	NE	October 9	5b–6a	Sep 20–Oct 25
Kansas City	MO	October 26	6a–6b	Oct 7–Nov 10
St. Louis	MO	October 29	6b–7a	Oct 10–Nov 15
Little Rock	AR	November 4	7b–8a	Oct 15–Nov 20
Oklahoma City	OK	November 5	7a–7b	Oct 15–Nov 20
Tulsa	OK	November 2	7a–7b	Oct 13–Nov 18
Dallas	TX	November 17	8a–8b	Oct 27–Dec 5
Houston	TX	December 11	9a–9b	Nov 15–Jan 5
San Antonio	TX	December 1	8b–9a	Nov 6–Dec 26
El Paso	TX	November 9	8a–8b	Oct 20–Nov 27
Amarillo	TX	October 29	6b–7a	Oct 8–Nov 16
Billings	MT	September 29	5b–6a	Sep 8–Oct 18
Great Falls	MT	September 20	4b–5b	Sep 1–Oct 8
Boise	ID	October 12	7a–7b	Sep 23–Oct 27
Cheyenne	WY	September 27	5a–5b	Sep 6–Oct 14
Denver	CO	October 7	5b–6a	Sep 17–Oct 24
Colorado Springs	CO	September 29	5b–6a	Sep 7–Oct 17
Salt Lake City	UT	October 15	7a–7b	Sep 26–Nov 2
Albuquerque	NM	October 29	7a–7b	Oct 10–Nov 14
Santa Fe	NM	October 3	5b–6b	Sep 12–Oct 21
Phoenix	AZ	December 25	9b–10a	Nov 27–Jan 22
Tucson	AZ	November 26	9a–9b	Oct 31–Dec 22
Flagstaff	AZ	October 1	6a–6b	Sep 12–Oct 18
Las Vegas	NV	November 21	9a–9b	Oct 27–Dec 14
Reno	NV	October 14	6b–7a	Sep 25–Nov 1
Sacramento	CA	November 26	9a–9b	Nov 2–Dec 20
San Francisco	CA	Frost rare	10a–11a	Frost possible but rare; last frost typically Jan
Los Angeles	CA	Frost very rare	10a–11b	Most years frost-free through winter
Fresno	CA	December 7	9a–9b	Nov 11–Jan 2
Portland	OR	November 19	8a–8b	Oct 31–Dec 8
Eugene	OR	November 7	8a–8b	Oct 18–Nov 25
Medford	OR	October 22	7b–8a	Oct 3–Nov 8
Seattle	WA	November 25	8b–9a	Nov 3–Dec 17
Spokane	WA	October 7	6b–7a	Sep 17–Oct 24
Honolulu	HI	No frost	12a–13a	Frost does not occur

For your specific zip code, use the Farmers’ Almanac Average Frost Dates Tool, which pulls location-specific data from the nearest official weather station. Your town’s date may differ from the nearest large city by two to three weeks depending on elevation and proximity to water.

Understanding Your Frost Date: 10%, 50%, and 90% Probability

Most frost date resources — including NOAA’s official data — publish frost probabilities rather than a single fixed date. The three most useful figures:

• 10% probability date: The date by which there is a 1 in 10 chance frost has already occurred. Very early frosts only. Use this if you are growing something truly irreplaceable.
• 50% probability date: The median frost date — frost has occurred in about half of recorded years by this point. This is the most commonly cited “average first frost date.” Use as your primary planning anchor.
• 90% probability date: By this date, there is only a 1 in 10 chance you have NOT seen frost yet. Frost is nearly certain. If you have not covered or harvested tender plants by this date, do it immediately.

Practical rule: plan your end-of-season harvest around the 50% date. Have frost cloth ready by the 10% date. Assume anything still in the ground after the 90% date has been gambling with time.