Frost Dates in North Carolina
Across 187 NOAA weather stations in North Carolina, the average last spring frost falls between March 1 at Frisco 2NNE and May 16 at Mt Mitchell. At a typical North Carolina station it is around April 1, with the first fall frost around November 4 and a frost-free season of about 217 days.
Find the frost dates for your ZIP code
A typical North Carolina season
What shapes frost dates in North Carolina
- The frost-free season ranges from 140 days at Mt Mitchell to 293 days at Ocracoke.
- Elevation matters: Mt Mitchell, at 6,240 ft, averages its last frost on May 16, while Belhaven 3 NE, at 0 ft, averages March 25.
- Gardens in valleys and low spots, where cold air settles, often frost a week or more later in spring than the nearest station.
Frost dates at major airports
| Station | Last frost | Safer date | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | Apr 6 | Apr 24 | Oct 31 | 205 |
| Asheville 13 S | Apr 17 | May 4 | Oct 23 | 187 |
| Asheville 8 SSW | Apr 24 | May 11 | Oct 18 | 175 |
| Asheville Rgnl Airport | Apr 9 | Apr 27 | Oct 28 | 201 |
| Beaufort Michael J Smith Fld | Mar 10 | Mar 26 | Dec 1 | 265 |
| Burlington Alamance Airport | Apr 1 | Apr 17 | Nov 2 | 215 |
| Cape Hatteras Airport | Mar 4 | Mar 25 | Dec 22 | 290 |
| Chapel Hill Williams Airport | Mar 29 | Apr 12 | Nov 5 | 222 |
| Charlotte Douglas Airport | Mar 30 | Apr 14 | Nov 3 | 221 |
| Cherry Point Mcas | Mar 19 | Apr 4 | Nov 22 | 249 |
| Durham 11 W | Mar 31 | Apr 19 | Nov 4 | 217 |
| Elizabeth City Cgas | Mar 28 | Apr 11 | Nov 12 | 230 |
| Fayetteville Rgnl Airport | Mar 22 | Apr 8 | Nov 13 | 236 |
| Gastonia Muni Airport | Mar 24 | Apr 10 | Nov 9 | 230 |
| Goldsboro 4 SE | Mar 15 | Apr 1 | Nov 18 | 250 |
| Hickory Faa Airport | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | Nov 4 | 219 |
| Laurinburg Maxton Airport | Mar 25 | Apr 11 | Nov 8 | 228 |
| Lumberton Muni Airport | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Nov 10 | 233 |
| Manteo Airport | Mar 15 | Mar 30 | Dec 6 | 266 |
| Monroe Airport | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | Nov 5 | 220 |
| New Bern Craven Co Airport | Mar 23 | Apr 7 | Nov 15 | 237 |
| New River Mcaf | Mar 23 | Apr 7 | Nov 16 | 240 |
| Piedmont Triad Intl Airport | Mar 30 | Apr 14 | Nov 5 | 220 |
| Raleigh Durham Intl Airport | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | Nov 4 | 219 |
| Roanoke Rapids Airport | Mar 27 | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 230 |
| Rocky Mt Wilson Airport | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Nov 5 | 219 |
| Wilmington Intl Airport | Mar 19 | Apr 4 | Nov 20 | 247 |
| Winston Salem Rynlds Airport | Mar 26 | Apr 11 | Nov 9 | 228 |
All 187 weather stations in North Carolina
| Station | Elevation (ft) | Last frost | Safer date | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle | 610 | Mar 29 | Apr 14 | Nov 4 | 220 |
| Andrews | 1,749 | Apr 17 | May 3 | Oct 23 | 189 |
| Apex | 450 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | Nov 8 | 227 |
| Arcola | 330 | Apr 3 | Apr 19 | Nov 5 | 217 |
| Asheboro 2 W | 870 | Apr 5 | Apr 21 | Oct 31 | 207 |
| Asheville | 2,238 | Apr 6 | Apr 24 | Oct 31 | 205 |
| Asheville 13 S | 2,103 | Apr 17 | May 4 | Oct 23 | 187 |
| Asheville 8 SSW | 2,151 | Apr 24 | May 11 | Oct 18 | 175 |
| Asheville Rgnl Airport | 2,117 | Apr 9 | Apr 27 | Oct 28 | 201 |
| Atlantic Beach Wtp | 4 | Mar 3 | Mar 21 | Dec 13 | 286 |
| Aurora 6 N | 20 | Mar 8 | Mar 28 | Dec 5 | 272 |
| Banner Elk | 3,770 | Apr 30 | May 17 | Oct 14 | 167 |
| Bayboro 3 SW | 5 | Mar 30 | Apr 15 | Nov 8 | 224 |
| Beaufort Michael J Smith Fld | 11 | Mar 10 | Mar 26 | Dec 1 | 265 |
| Beech Mtn | 5,053 | May 6 | May 23 | Oct 14 | 159 |
| Belhaven 3 NE | 0 | Mar 25 | Apr 8 | Nov 11 | 233 |
| Bent Creek | 2,110 | Apr 26 | May 12 | Oct 18 | 175 |
| Black Mtn 2 W | 2,290 | Apr 19 | May 7 | Oct 23 | 184 |
| Blowing Rock 1NW | 3,850 | Apr 25 | May 12 | Oct 21 | 178 |
| Boone 1 SE | 3,100 | May 2 | May 19 | Oct 13 | 163 |
| Brevard | 2,175 | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 23 | 185 |
| Bryson City 4 | 1,985 | Apr 16 | May 2 | Oct 24 | 189 |
| Burlington Alamance Airport | 617 | Apr 1 | Apr 17 | Nov 2 | 215 |
| Burlington Fire Stn #5 | 660 | Mar 29 | Apr 15 | Nov 9 | 226 |
| Burnsville Ag | 2,825 | Apr 24 | May 13 | Oct 19 | 180 |
| Candler 1 W | 2,240 | Apr 19 | May 7 | Oct 22 | 185 |
| Cane Creek Rsvr | 525 | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Cape Hatteras Airport | 11 | Mar 4 | Mar 25 | Dec 22 | 290 |
| Carthage Wtp | 440 | Apr 1 | Apr 19 | Nov 5 | 219 |
| Cary | 390 | Mar 31 | Apr 12 | Nov 10 | 226 |
| Cataloochee | 2,650 | Apr 30 | May 15 | Oct 12 | 164 |
| Catawba 5 SW | 1,015 | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Nov 8 | 230 |
| Cedar Is | 8 | Mar 11 | Mar 30 | Nov 30 | 261 |
| Celo 2 S | 2,700 | Apr 26 | May 13 | Oct 15 | 171 |
| Chapel Hill 2 W | 500 | Mar 31 | Apr 14 | Nov 3 | 218 |
| Chapel Hill Williams Airport | 512 | Mar 29 | Apr 12 | Nov 5 | 222 |
| Charlotte Douglas Airport | 728 | Mar 30 | Apr 14 | Nov 3 | 221 |
| Chatham Wtp | 308 | Apr 1 | Apr 23 | Nov 7 | 221 |
| Cherokee | 1,965 | Apr 17 | May 6 | Oct 21 | 186 |
| Cherry Point Mcas | 29 | Mar 19 | Apr 4 | Nov 22 | 249 |
| Clayton 3E | 332 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 | Nov 8 | 225 |
| Clayton Wtp | 300 | Apr 7 | Apr 20 | Nov 3 | 211 |
| Clinton 2 NE | 158 | Mar 26 | Apr 8 | Nov 7 | 226 |
| Columbia Ag Gum Neck | 10 | Mar 29 | Apr 10 | Nov 13 | 231 |
| Concord | 700 | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Nov 2 | 215 |
| Coweeta Exp Stn | 2,247 | Apr 23 | May 11 | Oct 17 | 175 |
| Cullowhee | 2,192 | Apr 19 | May 7 | Oct 22 | 184 |
| Danbury | 1,019 | Apr 11 | Apr 29 | Oct 30 | 202 |
| Dunn 4 NW | 200 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 | Nov 7 | 226 |
| Durham | 400 | Apr 2 | Apr 18 | Nov 4 | 217 |
| Durham 11 W | 562 | Mar 31 | Apr 19 | Nov 4 | 217 |
| Eden | 678 | Apr 11 | Apr 27 | Oct 29 | 201 |
| Edenton | 10 | Mar 24 | Apr 8 | Nov 14 | 238 |
| Elizabeth City | 8 | Mar 27 | Apr 18 | Nov 17 | 238 |
| Elizabeth City Cgas | 13 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 | Nov 12 | 230 |
| Elizabethtown | 120 | Mar 29 | Apr 13 | Nov 8 | 226 |
| Elkin | 910 | Apr 15 | May 3 | Oct 26 | 194 |
| Enka | 2,050 | Apr 12 | Apr 27 | Oct 23 | 195 |
| Fairfield | 5 | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | Nov 4 | 211 |
| Falls Lake | 280 | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | Nov 4 | 213 |
| Fayetteville (pwc) | 96 | Mar 30 | Apr 16 | Nov 10 | 227 |
| Fayetteville Rgnl Airport | 186 | Mar 22 | Apr 8 | Nov 13 | 236 |
| Flat Springs 1E | 3,330 | Apr 18 | May 7 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Fletcher 3 W | 2,070 | Apr 18 | May 4 | Oct 21 | 186 |
| Forest City 8 W | 849 | Apr 11 | Apr 28 | Oct 27 | 198 |
| Franklin | 2,125 | Apr 17 | May 4 | Oct 23 | 187 |
| Frisco 2NNE | 0 | Mar 1 | Mar 21 | Dec 20 | 292 |
| Garner | 330 | Apr 1 | Apr 15 | Nov 1 | 213 |
| Gastonia | 700 | Mar 27 | Apr 9 | Nov 9 | 228 |
| Gastonia Muni Airport | 797 | Mar 24 | Apr 10 | Nov 9 | 230 |
| Goldsboro 4 SE | 109 | Mar 15 | Apr 1 | Nov 18 | 250 |
| Goldsboro Ag 1 N | 109 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 | Nov 12 | 231 |
| Grandfather Mtn | 5,280 | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 13 | 160 |
| Greensboro Wtp | 765 | Apr 1 | Apr 14 | Nov 4 | 217 |
| Greenville | 32 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 | Nov 8 | 227 |
| Hamlet | 350 | Mar 30 | Apr 15 | Nov 4 | 220 |
| Haw Rvr 1E | 636 | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | Nov 3 | 215 |
| Hayesville 1 NE | 1,792 | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 21 | 182 |
| Henderson 2 NNW | 480 | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | Oct 26 | 193 |
| Henderson 4 NNE | 500 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 | Nov 9 | 227 |
| Hendersonville 1 NE | 2,160 | Apr 14 | May 1 | Oct 25 | 192 |
| Hickory Faa Airport | 1,143 | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | Nov 4 | 219 |
| High Pt | 900 | Mar 30 | Apr 15 | Nov 5 | 220 |
| Highlands | 3,850 | Apr 30 | May 17 | Oct 15 | 167 |
| Hofmann Forest | 47 | Apr 6 | Apr 23 | Nov 1 | 204 |
| Hot Springs | 1,345 | Apr 11 | Apr 27 | Oct 29 | 201 |
| Jackson | 123 | Apr 5 | Apr 18 | Nov 1 | 211 |
| Jackson Springs 5 WNW | 730 | Mar 25 | Apr 10 | Nov 14 | 235 |
| Jacksonville Eoc | 17 | Mar 31 | Apr 15 | Nov 8 | 224 |
| Jefferson 2 E | 2,759 | May 7 | May 24 | Oct 8 | 154 |
| Kinston 7 SE | 24 | Apr 1 | Apr 15 | Nov 4 | 217 |
| Kinston Ag Rsch | 60 | Mar 25 | Apr 7 | Nov 11 | 232 |
| Lake Lure 2 | 1,040 | Apr 5 | Apr 20 | Oct 30 | 207 |
| Lake Toxaway 2 SW | 3,200 | Apr 15 | May 1 | Oct 26 | 193 |
| Laurinburg | 210 | Mar 21 | Apr 10 | Nov 14 | 239 |
| Laurinburg Maxton Airport | 220 | Mar 25 | Apr 11 | Nov 8 | 228 |
| Lenoir | 1,155 | Apr 7 | Apr 28 | Oct 31 | 207 |
| Lewiston | 50 | Mar 29 | Apr 12 | Nov 7 | 223 |
| Lexington | 760 | Apr 11 | Apr 26 | Oct 28 | 199 |
| Lillington | 150 | Mar 30 | Apr 15 | Nov 6 | 223 |
| Lincolnton 4 W | 887 | Apr 9 | Apr 27 | Oct 28 | 201 |
| Longwood | 40 | Mar 26 | Apr 11 | Nov 11 | 231 |
| Louisburg | 260 | Apr 11 | Apr 28 | Oct 29 | 201 |
| Lumber Rvr Sp | 96 | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Nov 5 | 219 |
| Lumberton | 112 | Mar 24 | Apr 8 | Nov 11 | 234 |
| Lumberton Muni Airport | 121 | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Nov 10 | 233 |
| Manteo Airport | 13 | Mar 15 | Mar 30 | Dec 6 | 266 |
| Marion | 1,410 | Apr 5 | Apr 21 | Nov 1 | 209 |
| Marshall | 1,920 | Apr 28 | May 13 | Oct 18 | 173 |
| Mocksville 5SE | 680 | Apr 15 | May 2 | Oct 25 | 192 |
| Monroe 2 SE | 550 | Apr 3 | Apr 18 | Nov 1 | 213 |
| Monroe Airport | 679 | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | Nov 5 | 220 |
| Moores Creek Nb | 22 | Mar 27 | Apr 12 | Nov 8 | 227 |
| Morehead City 2 WNW | 10 | Mar 18 | Apr 5 | Nov 21 | 249 |
| Morganton | 1,180 | Apr 7 | Apr 26 | Oct 28 | 202 |
| Mt Airy 2 W | 1,080 | Apr 19 | May 8 | Oct 23 | 186 |
| Mt Mitchell | 6,240 | May 16 | May 31 | Oct 4 | 140 |
| Mt Olive 6SE | 162 | Mar 28 | Apr 10 | Nov 7 | 226 |
| Murfreesboro | 100 | Apr 6 | Apr 23 | Nov 1 | 208 |
| Murphy 4ESE | 1,600 | Apr 22 | May 7 | Oct 20 | 180 |
| N Fk 2 | 2,480 | Apr 5 | Apr 22 | Oct 31 | 206 |
| N Wilkesboro | 1,120 | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 29 | 201 |
| New Bern Craven Co Airport | 19 | Mar 23 | Apr 7 | Nov 15 | 237 |
| New Hill | 320 | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | Nov 3 | 209 |
| New River Mcaf | 26 | Mar 23 | Apr 7 | Nov 16 | 240 |
| Newport/morehead City Wfo | 30 | Mar 26 | Apr 9 | Nov 16 | 236 |
| Ocracoke | 4 | Mar 1 | Mar 21 | Dec 20 | 293 |
| Old Ft Ag 3 W | 1,425 | Apr 21 | May 9 | Oct 23 | 183 |
| Oxford Ag | 500 | Mar 30 | Apr 14 | Nov 6 | 222 |
| Perrytown | 28 | Mar 20 | Apr 5 | Nov 20 | 246 |
| Pfafftown | 950 | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | Oct 31 | 204 |
| Piedmont Triad Intl Airport | 890 | Mar 30 | Apr 14 | Nov 5 | 220 |
| Pisgah Forest 3 NE | 2,190 | Apr 19 | May 8 | Oct 23 | 186 |
| Plymouth 5 E | 20 | Mar 31 | Apr 15 | Nov 7 | 221 |
| Raeford | 250 | Apr 3 | Apr 19 | Nov 3 | 214 |
| Raleigh 4 SW | 420 | Mar 28 | Apr 12 | Nov 9 | 227 |
| Raleigh Durham Intl Airport | 416 | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | Nov 4 | 219 |
| Raleigh State Univ | 400 | Mar 28 | Apr 12 | Nov 8 | 229 |
| Randleman | 810 | Mar 29 | Apr 13 | Nov 6 | 224 |
| Reelsboro | 45 | Mar 21 | Apr 5 | Nov 17 | 242 |
| Reidsville 2 NW | 890 | Apr 5 | Apr 21 | Nov 2 | 213 |
| Richlands | 20 | Apr 5 | Apr 20 | Nov 4 | 214 |
| Roanoke Rapids | 210 | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | Nov 9 | 222 |
| Roanoke Rapids Airport | 256 | Mar 27 | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 230 |
| Robbinsville Ag 5 NE | 2,330 | Apr 13 | May 2 | Oct 26 | 194 |
| Rocky Mt 8 ESE | 110 | Mar 31 | Apr 13 | Nov 7 | 223 |
| Rocky Mt Wilson Airport | 160 | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Nov 5 | 219 |
| Roxboro 7 ESE | 710 | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 26 | 194 |
| Rural Hall | 960 | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | Oct 31 | 209 |
| Salisbury | 700 | Apr 6 | Apr 27 | Oct 30 | 208 |
| Salisbury 9 WNW | 725 | Apr 9 | Apr 24 | Oct 28 | 203 |
| Sanford 8 NE | 262 | Apr 10 | Apr 25 | Oct 30 | 203 |
| Shallotte Ag | 20 | Mar 20 | Apr 4 | Nov 17 | 243 |
| Shelby 2 NW | 820 | Apr 12 | Apr 28 | Oct 25 | 195 |
| Siler City 2 N | 610 | Mar 31 | Apr 13 | Nov 4 | 220 |
| Smithfield | 150 | Mar 29 | Apr 14 | Nov 5 | 220 |
| Snow Hill Waste Water Treament | 41 | Mar 26 | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 232 |
| Southport 5 N | 20 | Mar 24 | Apr 10 | Nov 17 | 239 |
| Sparta 3.5 SSW | 3,011 | Apr 22 | May 11 | Oct 22 | 180 |
| Spruce Pine 2 NE | 2,850 | Apr 26 | May 13 | Oct 20 | 177 |
| Statesville 2 NNE | 803 | Apr 16 | May 1 | Oct 25 | 191 |
| Surf City | 24 | Mar 26 | Apr 9 | Nov 13 | 233 |
| Swannanoa 2 SSE | 4,320 | Apr 22 | May 11 | Oct 24 | 184 |
| Swanquarter Ferry | 3 | Mar 18 | Mar 31 | Nov 25 | 253 |
| Tapoco | 1,110 | Apr 17 | May 4 | Oct 27 | 193 |
| Tarboro 1 S | 35 | Mar 30 | Apr 10 | Nov 9 | 226 |
| Taylorsville | 1,320 | Apr 2 | Apr 19 | Nov 4 | 217 |
| Transou | 2,834 | May 4 | May 22 | Oct 10 | 158 |
| Tryon | 1,320 | Mar 27 | Apr 14 | Nov 12 | 231 |
| Vale Ag 2 SW | 985 | Apr 12 | Apr 26 | Oct 28 | 198 |
| W Kerr Scott Resv | 1,070 | Apr 7 | Apr 22 | Nov 1 | 208 |
| Wadesboro | 480 | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Nov 9 | 231 |
| Wallace 1SE | 35 | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Nov 7 | 220 |
| Warsaw 5 E | 110 | Apr 7 | Apr 22 | Oct 30 | 204 |
| Washington Wwtp 4W | 10 | Mar 22 | Apr 7 | Nov 15 | 237 |
| Waterville 2 | 1,430 | Apr 6 | Apr 23 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Waynesville 1 E | 2,658 | Apr 30 | May 15 | Oct 14 | 167 |
| Whiteville 7 NW | 90 | Mar 29 | Apr 12 | Nov 6 | 224 |
| Willard 4 SW | 55 | Apr 2 | Apr 16 | Nov 5 | 217 |
| Williamston 1 E | 20 | Mar 20 | Apr 5 | Nov 12 | 239 |
| Wilmington 7 N | 40 | Mar 29 | Apr 11 | Nov 8 | 226 |
| Wilmington 7 SE | 30 | Mar 20 | Apr 8 | Nov 15 | 241 |
| Wilmington Intl Airport | 33 | Mar 19 | Apr 4 | Nov 20 | 247 |
| Wilson 3 SW | 110 | Mar 22 | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 236 |
| Winston Salem Rynlds Airport | 970 | Mar 26 | Apr 11 | Nov 9 | 228 |
| Yadkinville 6 E | 875 | Apr 16 | May 3 | Oct 25 | 191 |
| Yanceyville 4 SE | 635 | Mar 31 | Apr 14 | Nov 4 | 218 |
No station matches that name. Try a nearby town, or look up your ZIP code above.
Last frost and first frost are averages (a 50% chance of frost later in spring or earlier in fall). Safer date is the spring date with only a 10% chance of a later frost.
Using these dates
Plant hardy crops like peas and spinach several weeks before your last frost, and tender crops like tomatoes and peppers after it, once nights stay above 50°F. The Seed Starting Calculator turns your frost date into sowing and planting dates, and When to Plant Tomatoes explains the timing in detail.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32°F threshold.
Frost dates in other states
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