MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — With summer heat still gripping much of the country, it is never too early to ask the question every resident eventually wonders: when does the first freeze typically arrive in my city? The Historical Average First Freeze map covers the entire contiguous United States and breaks down the expected first freeze window city by city, from locations that see freezing temperatures as early as August 31 or earlier all the way to cities like Houston, Texas, Tampa, Florida and Mobile, Alabama that historically do not see their first freeze until after November 30 or sometimes never at all.
August 31 or Earlier: The Earliest Freeze Zones
The pink zone on the historical average first freeze map represents areas where the first freeze typically arrives by August 31 or earlier. This zone covers the highest elevations and most northern locations in the contiguous United States, primarily across the northern Rocky Mountains and high-elevation areas of the Northwest. Cities near or within this zone include portions of Montana near Great Falls and Billings at higher elevations, though the exact first freeze date varies significantly by elevation even within the same city.
September 1 Through September 15: Early Freeze Zone
The darker purple zone represents areas historically seeing their first freeze between September 1 and September 15. Cities visible within or near this zone on the historical map include:
- Bismarck, North Dakota and Rapid City, South Dakota fall within the early September first freeze zone, meaning residents there can historically expect temperatures to drop to 32 degrees or below within the first two weeks of September.
- Great Falls and Billings, Montana sit within or near the September 1 through September 15 first freeze window based on their position on the historical map.
- Boise, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah fall within the early to mid September first freeze zone on the historical average map.
September 16 Through September 30: Mid-Fall Freeze Arrives
The medium purple zone covers areas where the first freeze historically arrives between September 16 and September 30. Cities visible within this zone include:
- Minneapolis, Minnesota and Des Moines, Iowa fall within the September 16 through September 30 first freeze window historically, meaning residents there are entering the period when the first freeze becomes possible any day now.
- Denver, Colorado sits within the September 16 through September 30 historical first freeze zone on the map.
- Marquette, Michigan and Bismarck, North Dakota area communities also fall within this window.
- Reno, Nevada is visible within the mid to late September first freeze zone on the historical average map.
October 1 Through October 15: First Freeze for the Midwest and Great Lakes
The medium blue zone represents areas historically seeing their first freeze between October 1 and October 15. Cities visible within this zone include:
- Chicago, Illinois and Detroit, Michigan fall within the October 1 through October 15 historical first freeze window, meaning residents in these major Midwest cities can typically expect the first freeze of the season during the first two weeks of October.
- Kansas City, Missouri and Dodge City, Kansas are visible within the October 1 through October 15 first freeze zone on the historical map.
- Buffalo, New York and Portland, Maine fall within this first freeze window historically.
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is visible within the early to mid October first freeze zone.
October 16 Through October 31: Mid-October Freeze for the Mid-Atlantic and Upper South
The lighter blue zone covers areas where the first freeze historically arrives between October 16 and October 31. Cities visible within this zone include:
- New York, New York and Washington, District of Columbia fall within the October 16 through October 31 historical first freeze window on the map.
- Louisville, Kentucky and Charleston, West Virginia are visible within the mid to late October first freeze zone.
- Little Rock, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee fall within the October 16 through October 31 historical first freeze window on the historical average map.
- Raleigh, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia are visible within the mid to late October first freeze zone historically.
- Albuquerque, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas fall within the October 16 through October 31 historical first freeze window on the map.
November 1 Through November 15: Deep South Cities Wait for Freeze Season
The teal zone covers areas historically seeing their first freeze between November 1 and November 15. Cities visible within this zone include:
- Dallas, Texas and Austin, Texas fall within the November 1 through November 15 historical first freeze window, meaning residents in these major Texas cities typically wait until early to mid November for the first freeze of the season.
- Memphis, Tennessee area and Charleston, South Carolina are visible within or near the early November first freeze zone on the historical map.
- Jacksonville, Florida falls within the November 1 through November 15 historical first freeze window based on its position on the map.
- Mobile, Alabama and Baton Rouge, Louisiana are visible within the early November first freeze zone on the historical average map.
November 16 Through November 30 and Beyond: The South and Gulf Coast
The green zone at the warmest end of the color scale covers areas where the first freeze historically does not arrive until November 16 through November 30 or later. Cities visible within this zone include:
- Houston, Texas falls within the latest first freeze zone on the historical average map, with residents there typically not seeing a freeze until very late November at the earliest based on historical averages.
- Tampa, Florida is visible within the latest first freeze zone, reflecting the city’s subtropical climate where freeze events are historically rare and late-arriving.
- New Orleans, Louisiana area communities along the Gulf Coast fall within the latest historical first freeze windows on the map.
- Los Angeles, California and San Diego, California and San Francisco, California are visible on the western edge of the map and fall within zones reflecting their mild coastal climates and very late or rare first freeze dates historically.
- Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada are visible within the warmer zones on the historical first freeze map, reflecting their desert climates and late or infrequent freeze dates.
