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When the Last Freeze of the Season Typically Occurs | Weather.com
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When the Last Freeze of the Season Typically Occurs

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At a Glance

  • The date of the average last freeze of the season is highly variable across the U.S.
  • Areas near the Canadian border and in the Mountain West typically see their last freeze the latest.
  • In parts of the South, this may occur before the end of March.

The average date of the last freeze is highly variable across the United States and is used not only by gardeners, but as a proxy for when you may finally be able to pack away the winter coat for the season.

The map below illustrates when the last freeze of the season typically occurs, based on 1981-2010 averages. Keep in mind, the last freeze can vary greatly from year to year, depending on the weather pattern in place over the country during the spring months.

Based on 1981-2010 average temperatures.
(Data: NOAA/NCEI)

Much of the South usually sees its last freeze of the season before the end of March, while parts of the Mountain West may not see the last 32-degree temperature until late May or even June.

Below, we'll dig deeper into when specific regions and cities can expect the season's final freeze, on average.

Before March 10

Cities along the Gulf Coast and in the Deep South see their last freeze, on average, before March 10. However, this can occur much earlier or much later, depending on the weather conditions each year.

CityAverage Last FreezeLatest Last Freeze
MiamiJan. 9March 3
Tampa, FloridaJan. 20March 4
Jacksonville, FloridaFeb. 26April 8
Savannah, GeorgiaMarch 5April 16
HoustonFeb. 20April 10
Galveston, TexasJan. 22March 20

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 above also shows an area in the Desert Southwest and Southern California that, on average, sees its last freeze before March 10. This includes Los Angeles and San Diego, but these cities don't typically see freezing temperatures.

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Since 1950, San Diego has only dropped to 32 degrees or colder one time (Jan. 13, 1963) at Lindbergh Field. Los Angeles dropped to the freezing mark or colder the same date as San Diego and also on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21, 1968, at Los Angeles International Airport.

March 10-30

A large swath of the South, along with parts of the Interstate 95 corridor, Desert Southwest and West Coast, typically experience their last freeze between March 10 and March 30.

CityAverage Last FreezeLatest Last Freeze
AtlantaMarch 21April 23
DallasMarch 10April 13
New York CityMarch 29April 17
Portland, OregonMarch 19May 2
SeattleMarch 10May 1
Washington, D.C.March 27April 21

March 30 - April 10

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

CityAverage Last FreezeLatest Last Freeze
Raleigh-DurhamApril 6May 10
St. LouisApril 3May 10
Richmond, VirginiaApril 5May 11
NashvilleApril 3April 23
PhiladelphiaApril 2May 11
BostonApril 5April 29

It is interesting to note Boston's latest last freeze is earlier than Raleigh-Durham's by a week and a half, likely due to Boston's proximity to the relatively warmer Atlantic Ocean.

(MORE: Urban Heat Islands: Why Cities are Warmer than Rural Areas)

April 10-30

Many cities from the Plains and Midwest to the East Coast see their average last freeze between April 10 and April 30, in an average year.

CityAverage Last FreezeLatest Last Freeze
Kansas CityApril 11May 3
Omaha, NebraskaApril 23May 15
ChicagoApril 23May 29
IndianapolisApril 16May 27
BuffaloApril 22May 24
PittsburghApril 27May 24

If you live in any of these cities, despite your average final freeze in mid- to late April, it may be best to wait until closer to Memorial Day to plant your garden. In Chicago, the last freeze occurred as late as May 29 in 1965, essentially around the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

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

April 30 - May 20

These later freeze dates are basically confined to the nation's northern tier and Mountain West, which is to be expected.

CityAverage Last FreezeLatest Last Freeze
Green BayMay 4June 6
Fargo, North DakotaMay 8June 20
Concord, New HampshireMay 14June 26
Bangor, MaineMay 8May 27
DenverMay 12June 8
Reno, NevadaMay 10June 29

Despite these cities seeing their last freeze in early to mid-May in an average year, sometimes it doesn't occur until around or after the summer solstice (June 21 this year), such as in Fargo, Concord and Reno.

(MORE: Why Seasons Aren't the Same to Meteorologists as the Rest of Us)

After May 20

Any freezes after May 20 are generally in areas near the Canadian border or in the highest elevations of the Rocky Mountains.

CityAverage Last FreezeLatest Last Freeze
Missoula, MontanaMay 20June 30
Casper, WyomingMay 21June 14
Ely, NevadaJune 14June 30
Flagstaff, ArizonaJune 6June 29
Idaho Falls, IdahoMay 30June 26
Livingston, MontanaMay 27June 29

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