Frost/Freeze
NOAA Storm Events type · 15,400 records since 1996 · 45 states and territories
The National Weather Service defines frost/freeze as: "A surface air temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or lower, or the formation of ice crystals on the ground or other surfaces, for a period of time long enough to cause human or economic impact, during the locally defined growing season." NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 15,400 frost/freeze records from 1996 through June 30, 2026, the most in Kentucky (1,690), with 6 deaths recorded.
How the National Weather Service files frost/freeze
A surface air temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) or lower, or the formation of ice crystals on the ground or other surfaces, for a period of time long enough to cause human or economic impact, during the locally defined growing season. If the event that occurred is considered significant, even though it affected a small area, it should be entered into Storm Data.
National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605, Storm Data Preparation (July 26, 2021), Appendix A, entry 17
Source: National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605. Read the instruction (PDF).
Frost/Freeze, 1996 to 2026
Records per year (2026 to June 30, 2026).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $10 million
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- $10 billion or more, or 1,000 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- Records
- 15,4001996 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths
- 627 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $5.8Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Counties with a record
- 1,777of 3,266
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026. Search the record at NCEI.
Where do frost/freeze records happen?
States
Counties
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).
When do frost/freeze records happen?
45% of its frost/freeze records since 1996 fell in April and May. The busiest month is April.
The values, month by month
Jan 1,216 · Feb 687 · Mar 643 · Apr 5,220 · May 1,704 · Jun 284 · Jul 0 · Aug 28 · Sep 440 · Oct 3,219 · Nov 1,195 · Dec 764 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
The deadliest frost/freeze records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-11-27 | Frost/FreezeMandaree, McKenzie County, ND Frosty roads were the blame for this accident. A pickup lost control on the slick roads and hit the deceased's van head on. The driver of the pickup was injured as well as 2 passengers in the van. | 1 | 3 | $28K | |
| 2021-12-14 | Frost/FreezeCowlitz County and Skamania County, WA · forecast zone South Washington Cascades Rain and snow showers occurred overnight, with clearing skies and temperatures dipping to or below freezing in the morning. A vehicle, carrying high school students on their way to school, slid and crashed into a fence and a house around 8am in the morning. | 1 | 1 | $22K | |
| 2013-10-26 | Frost/FreezeIdaho County, ID · forecast zone Southern Clearwater Mountains A 41 year old man heading west on U.S. Highway 12, lost control as he crossed an icy bridge deck over Lolo Creek near mile-marker 7 and shortly died thereafter. Another vehicle heading eastbound had to swerve into a ditch attempting to avoid a collision but still was side-swiped by the bike. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2021-02-14 | Frost/FreezeBrooks County, TX · forecast zone Brooks Temperatures fell below freezing around 3:30 PM on February 14th, and did not rise above freezing until around 2:30 PM on the 16th. Low temperatures at the Brooks County Airport bottomed out at 15 degrees on the morning of the 15th, and 19 degrees on the morning of the 16th. The high temperature on the 15th only rose ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-11-15 | Frost/FreezeClackamas County and 2 more, OR · forecast zone North Oregon Cascades Foothills Frost on the roads and bridges resulted in several traffic accidents, including one fatality on Highway 103 near the US-26 intersection. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2009-12-08 | Frost/FreezeSanta Clara County, CA · forecast zone Santa Clara Valley Including San Jose Black ice and unsafe speed led to a single-car crash which killed the driver, the only occupant. The crash occurred in San Jose on southbound Almaden Expressway between Curtner Avenue and Canoas Garden Avenue. The police received the report of the mishap at 5:50 a.m. PST. and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. ... | 1 | 0 | $28K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, deaths direct and indirect as filed.
The most recent frost/freeze records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-08 | Frost/FreezeMissoula County and Ravalli County, MT · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-08 | Frost/FreezeMineral County and 2 more, MT · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-08 | Frost/FreezeFlathead County and 2 more, MT · forecast zone Kootenai/Cabinet Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-07 | Frost/FreezeGranite County and 3 more, MT · forecast zone Potomac / Seeley Lake Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-20 | Frost/FreezeOtter Tail County, MN · forecast zone East Otter Tail | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-20 | Frost/FreezeOtter Tail County, MN · forecast zone West Otter Tail | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-20 | Frost/FreezeWilkin County, MN · forecast zone Wilkin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-20 | Frost/FreezeBecker County, MN · forecast zone East Becker | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.