When to expect your city's first freeze
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As summer turns to fall, the first freeze is just around the corner for much of the country.
The big picture: The first freeze — the first day temperatures reach 32°F or below — can come as soon as late September and early October for northern parts of the country or areas of high elevation.
How it works: The map above is built with data from the nonprofit climate research group Climate Central and is based on the average date of the first fall freeze between 1991 and 2020.
Zoom in: Denver's average first freeze during that period came on Oct. 4, while New Orleans' didn't arrive til Dec. 22.
- Some cities, like Los Angeles and San Diego, had no freeze at all.
Between the lines: First freeze is slightly different from "first frost," which is related not just to temperature, but also to the amount of moisture in the air.
- The average first freeze date, meanwhile, shifted either earlier or later in many parts of the country in 1991-2020 compared to 1981-2010 amid climate change.
The bottom line: Get your jackets ready, and plan your gardening accordingly.
