U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00286055 · New Jersey

Frost Dates for New Brunswick, NJ

NOAA weather station New Brunswick 3 SE (USC00286055), New Jersey · elevation 111 ft (34 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 1only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1550% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2650% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season193 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at New Brunswick, NJSpring: a frost after April 2 in 9 years out of 10, after April 15 in half of the years, after May 1 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 11 in 1 year out of 10, before October 26 in half of the years, before November 8 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 193 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 15First frost ~Oct 26Frost season at New Brunswick, NJSpring: a frost after April 2 in 9 years out of 10, after April 15 in half of the years, after May 1 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 11 in 1 year out of 10, before October 26 in half of the years, before November 8 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 193 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 15First frost ~Oct 26
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 1October 11
50% (typical)April 15October 26
90% (likely)April 2November 8
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
193 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 2
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 7

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 14 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 28 (2 days later). Frost-free season 193 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at New Brunswick: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 1, 20% April 25, 30% April 21, 40% April 17, 50% April 15, 60% April 11, 70% April 9, 80% April 6, 90% April 2. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 3, 2022 April 18, 2023 April 10, 2024 April 22, 2025 April 9, 2026 April 21.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 1Apr 15Apr 22021: April 32022: April 182023: April 102024: April 222025: April 92026: April 21Fall at New Brunswick: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 11, 20% October 15, 30% October 20, 40% October 23, 50% October 26, 60% October 29, 70% November 1, 80% November 3, 90% November 8. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 4, 2022 October 30, 2023 November 2, 2024 October 28, 2025 November 7.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 11Oct 26Nov 82021: November 42022: October 302023: November 22024: October 282025: November 7
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 3November 4
2022April 18October 30
2023April 10November 2
2024April 22October 28
2025April 9November 7
2026April 21season not over yet

What these dates mean

The cautious fall date in New Brunswick for finishing the harvest is October 11, when there is only a 10 % chance that a light frost has arrived. In spring the cautious date for setting out tender crops is May 1, which carries a 10 % chance of a frost later than that day. The early-season gamble date is April 2, with a 90 % chance of frost later.

The 50 % light-frost date in spring is April 15, which represents a 50 % chance of a frost later than this date. The 50 % light-frost date in fall is October 26, which represents a 50 % chance of a frost earlier than this date. Hard-frost dates (28 °F) are April 2 in spring and November 7 in fall; a hard frost matters more than a light frost because the lower temperature can cause greater damage to plant tissue.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 1" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 11" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near New Brunswick, NJNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Hightstown, NJ — 16 mi; 2 — Newark, NJ — 20 mi; 3 — Flemington, NJ — 25 mi; 4 — New York (Central Park), NY — 32 mi; 5 — New York (LaGuardia Airport), NY — 35 mi.PA25 mi · 40 km1. Hightstown, NJ — 16 mi12. Newark, NJ — 20 mi23. Flemington, NJ — 25 mi34. New York (Central Park), NY — 32 mi45. New York (LaGuardia Airport), NY — 35 mi5
  1. Hightstown, NJ 16 mi (26 km)
  2. Newark, NJ 20 mi (32 km)
  3. Flemington, NJ 25 mi (40 km)
  4. New York (Central Park), NY 32 mi (51 km)
  5. New York (LaGuardia Airport), NY 35 mi (57 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 40.4728, -74.4225.