Weather Explainers

When You’re Most Likely To See Your Last Freeze Of The Season, On Average

Here's when your last 32-degree temperature of the season occurs, on average, which can be as early as January or as late as July.

A Breakdown Of The Average Last Freeze Dates

Spring brings the promise of warmer weather and sunnier skies, but those pesky sub-freezing temperatures take a bit longer to be fully beaten back until fall.

And while it's not possible to predict the final freeze of the season months in advance each year - weather forecasts are much too prone to drastic changes for that - there is an average date you can use as a guide.

The contours shaded over the Lower 48 in the graphic below display the range of dates the average date of the last spring freeze (final 32 degrees or lower temperature), based on the 1991-2020 normals data from NOAA.

Average date of the last freeze, calculated from 1991-2020 U.S. climate normals.
(NOAA)

Much of the South usually has its last freeze of the season before the end of March, while the higher elevations of the West might not see the last 32-degree temperature until late May or even June.

Let’s dig deeper into when specific cities can expect the season's average final freeze, which can have implications for gardeners, and when you might be able to put away your warmer clothes.

(MORE: Protecting Plants From An Unexpected Cold Snap)

Final Freeze City-By-City

Before March 1: As you might expect, cities along the Gulf Coast and in the Deep South have their average last freeze earliest in the year, but this can occur far earlier or much later depending on the weather conditions each year.

Where “a freeze” feels more like a myth: Some cities don’t have an “average last freeze” because they have had so few seasons with temperatures dropping to freezing: since 1950, Miami has only recorded five winter seasons with a freeze: 1976-77, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1984-85 and 1989-90.

The map at the top of this article also shows an area in the Desert Southwest and Southern California that has its average last freeze before Jan. 16. This includes Los Angeles and San Diego, but these cities don't typically have freezing temperatures.

Since 1950, San Diego has only dropped to 32 degrees or colder once (Jan. 13, 1963) at Lindbergh Field. Los Angeles International Airport dropped to the freezing mark or colder on the same date and also on Dec. 21, 1968.

March 1-30: A large part of the South, along with parts of the Interstate 95 corridor, Desert Southwest and West Coast, typically experience their last freeze between March 1 and 30.

Chilly spring conditions have pushed the last freeze of the season to as late as April or even early May. Atlanta has experienced its last freeze of the season as late as April. However, freezing temperatures in late April last occurred in 1986.

March 30-April 10: A broad area from southern New Mexico to the Northeast urban heat islands typically experiences its last freeze of the season in late March or early April.

April 10-30: Many cities from the Plains and Midwest to the East Coast have their average last freeze in mid- to late April in an average year.

If you live in any of these cities, despite your average final freeze in mid- to late April, it might be best to wait until closer to Memorial Day to plant your garden. In Chicago, the last freeze occurred as late as May 25 in 1992, which was Memorial Day that year.

(MORE: 10-Day Forecast High/Low Temperatures)

April 30-May 15: Average last freeze dates in early to mid-May are confined to the nation's northern tier and Mountain West.

After May 15: Any freezes after May 15 typically occur in areas near the Canadian border or in the highest elevations of the Rocky Mountains.

Crested Butte, CO, has had a last freeze as late as July 31 (in 1992), which is coincidentally only one day before the earliest first freeze on record of Aug. 2 (in 2018).