Frost dates in New Jersey

NOAA 1991–2020 normals for a 32 °F freeze. Your own yard can run a little either side.

Short answer

Across 11 NOAA weather stations in New Jersey, the average last spring frost runs from March 26 at Atlantic City to May 1 at Sussex Airport. The first fall frost comes as early as October 12 at Sussex Airport and as late as November 21 at Atlantic City. Planting zones near these stations run from 6b to 8a.

New Jersey cities

Frost dates in Newark: last frost April 2, first frost November 10
Frost dates in Jersey City: last frost April 2, first frost November 10
Frost dates in Paterson: last frost April 14, first frost October 28
Frost dates in Elizabeth: last frost April 2, first frost November 10

Find yours by ZIP code

The table below is by weather station. For the station nearest you, and your planting zone, type your ZIP code.

New Jersey frost dates by weather station

Station	Last spring frost	First fall frost	Frost-free	Zone nearby
Andover Aeroflex Airport 583 ft	April 25 1 in 10 after May 11	October 19 1 in 10 by October 5	177 days	6b
Atlantic City 10 ft	March 26 1 in 10 after April 6	November 21 1 in 10 by November 6	240 days	8a
Atlantic City Intl Airport 60 ft	April 18 1 in 10 after May 5	October 29 1 in 10 by October 13	194 days	7a
Caldwell Essex Co Airport 173 ft	April 14 1 in 10 after April 30	October 28 1 in 10 by October 13	197 days	7a
Millville Muni Airport 70 ft	April 24 1 in 10 after May 10	October 23 1 in 10 by October 10	182 days	7a
Mt Holly S Jersey Airport 53 ft	April 15 1 in 10 after May 2	October 28 1 in 10 by October 12	196 days	7b
Newark Intl Airport 7 ft	April 2 1 in 10 after April 15	November 10 1 in 10 by October 28	222 days	7b
Somerville Somerset Airport 105 ft	April 26 1 in 10 after May 13	October 18 1 in 10 by October 5	175 days	7a
Sussex Airport 421 ft	May 1 1 in 10 after May 18	October 12 1 in 10 by September 30	164 days	6b
Teterboro Airport 9 ft	April 3 1 in 10 after April 16	November 4 1 in 10 by October 21	215 days	7b
Trenton Mercer Co Airport 184 ft	April 10 1 in 10 after April 25	November 1 1 in 10 by October 15	205 days	7b

The average date is NOAA's 50% date: half of years have a later last frost, or an earlier first one. Plan by the 1-in-10 date if a freeze would cost you plants. Stations are NOAA's main weather stations, mostly airports. “Zone nearby” is the USDA 2023 zone of the nearest ZIP code within 10 miles. NOAA counts the frost season from August to July, so in the warmest places the “first fall” freeze lands after New Year.

How these dates work

Frost dates come from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, which work out from each weather station's daily lows how likely the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (32 °F) are by each date. We use the station nearest the middle of your ZIP code and show its height and distance, since a station on a hill or by a lake can differ from your yard.

The average date is the 50% date: half of years have a freeze after the spring date or before the fall one. The 1-in-10 dates are NOAA's 10% dates, the ones to plan by if a late freeze would cost you plants. Within one yard, cold air pools in low spots while walls and paving hold heat, so some corners freeze before others.

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