Average UK Frost Dates Map
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Based on all available historical data, the average frost dates for your area are as follows:
Air Frost
Light Frost
Hard Frost
How These Dates Were Calculated
The goal was to be as scientific as possible, so these dates were calculated using open-source daily minimum temperature data from the Met Office, spanning from 1960 to 2023 (the most recent data set available). By applying algorithms to this dataset, we identified the annual start and end dates for different types of frost at a 1km resolution.
Air frost was defined as temperatures below 2°C, light frost as below 0°C, and hard frost as below -2°C. The annual dates for each frost type were then averaged to provide an estimate of when they are typically expected.
However, with climate change influencing temperature trends, using such a large dataset might skew the results. For a more accurate reflection of current patterns, we recommend using the map toggle to focus on data from the last 30 years. Climate periods of this length are standard for assessing trends, as they smooth out annual variations while avoiding excessive reliance on older historical data. This approach should offer a clearer picture of average frost dates in your area.
Disclaimer
Of course, it’s important to note that these dates are not a prediction for this year. Each season can vary, with frosts arriving earlier or later than average. Hopefully, they serve as a useful guide for planning sowing or transplanting activities in the coming year though.
Attribution
Data is used under Open Government Licence v3
Citation: Met Office; Hollis, D.; McCarthy, M.; Kendon, M.; Legg, T.; Simpson, I. (2018): HadUK-Grid gridded and regional average climate observations for the UK. Centre for Environmental Data Analysis, 01/01/2024.