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Savoy cabbage head and outer leaves covered in hoar frost in a vegetable garden

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North Carolina Last Frost Date 2027

The average last spring frost (32°F, 50% chance) in North Carolina falls between Mar 8 in Beaufort County and May 7 in Ashe County. The first fall frost comes between Oct 8 (Ashe County) and Dec 5 (Beaufort County).

Photo: Savoy cabbage head and outer leaves covered in hoar frost in a vegetable garden. Schlaghecken Josef, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Frost dates for your North Carolina county today

Dates are from the NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals for 1991 to 2020 at the weather station nearest each county center, with the station name, distance and elevation shown. NOAA Climate Normals.

Corn harvest across flat Blacklands fields, Carteret County

Corn harvest across flat Blacklands fields, Carteret County

North Carolina frost dates at a glance

100 counties, matched to 94 NOAA weather stations. "50% chance" means a freeze happens on or after the spring date, or on or before the fall date, in half of years.

Mar 8, BeaufortEarliest last frost
May 7, AsheLatest last frost
272 days, BeaufortLongest season
154 days, AsheShortest season

Last and first frost dates for every North Carolina county

CountyZoneLast frost (50%)Last frost (10%)First frost (50%)First frost (10%)Season daysNOAA station
Alamance8aApr 4Apr 19Nov 3Oct 24215Haw Rvr 1E, NC (2 mi)
Alexander8aApr 2Apr 19Nov 4Oct 21217Taylorsville, NC (0 mi)
Alleghany7aMay 4May 22Oct 10Sep 27158Transou, NC (11 mi)
Anson8aMar 24Apr 9Nov 9Oct 27231Wadesboro, NC (2 mi)
Ashe7aMay 7May 24Oct 8Sep 25154Jefferson 2 E, NC (4 mi)
Avery6bMay 5May 20Oct 13Sep 27160Grandfather Mtn, NC (5 mi)
Beaufort8bMar 8Mar 28Dec 5Nov 16272Aurora 6 N, NC (8 mi)
Bertie8aMar 29Apr 12Nov 7Oct 27223Lewiston, NC (13 mi)
Bladen8bMar 29Apr 13Nov 8Oct 29226Elizabethtown, NC (5 mi)
Brunswick8bMar 20Apr 4Nov 17Nov 3243Shallotte Ag, NC (12 mi)
Buncombe7aApr 6Apr 24Oct 31Oct 17205Asheville, NC (2 mi)
Burke7bApr 7Apr 26Oct 28Oct 14202Morganton, NC (2 mi)
Cabarrus8aApr 1Apr 16Nov 2Oct 21215Concord, NC (2 mi)
Caldwell7bApr 7Apr 28Oct 31Oct 18207Lenoir, NC (4 mi)
Camden8aMar 27Apr 18Nov 17Nov 3238Elizabeth City, NC (3 mi)
Carteret8bMar 10Mar 26Dec 1Nov 10265Beaufort Michael J Smith Fld, NC (11 mi)
Caswell7bMar 31Apr 14Nov 4Oct 22218Yanceyville 4 SE, NC (5 mi)
Catawba8aMar 31Apr 16Nov 4Oct 22219Hickory FAA Airport, NC (11 mi)
Chatham8aMar 31Apr 13Nov 4Oct 23220Siler City 2 N, NC (12 mi)
Cherokee7bApr 22May 7Oct 20Oct 8180Murphy 4Ese, NC (7 mi)
Chowan8aMar 24Apr 8Nov 14Nov 1238Edenton, NC (8 mi)
Clay7bApr 17May 3Oct 23Oct 10189Andrews, NC (11 mi)
Cleveland8aApr 12Apr 28Oct 25Oct 12195Shelby 2 NW, NC (2 mi)
Columbus8bMar 29Apr 12Nov 6Oct 25224Whiteville 7 NW, NC (13 mi)
Craven8bMar 23Apr 7Nov 15Nov 1237New Bern Craven Co Airport, NC (4 mi)
Cumberland8bMar 30Apr 16Nov 10Oct 28227Fayetteville (Pwc), NC (2 mi)
Currituck8bMar 28Apr 11Nov 12Oct 29230Elizabeth City Cgas, NC (15 mi)
Dare8bMar 29Apr 10Nov 13Oct 31231Columbia Ag Gum Neck, NC (21 mi)
Davidson8aApr 11Apr 26Oct 28Oct 14199Lexington, NC (5 mi)
Davie7bApr 15May 2Oct 25Oct 12192Mocksville 5Se, NC (7 mi)
Duplin8aApr 7Apr 22Oct 30Oct 16204Warsaw 5 E, NC (7 mi)
Durham8aApr 2Apr 18Nov 4Oct 24217Durham, NC (5 mi)
Edgecombe8aMar 30Apr 10Nov 9Oct 29226Tarboro 1 S, NC (4 mi)
Forsyth7bMar 26Apr 11Nov 9Oct 28228Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC (2 mi)
Franklin8aApr 11Apr 28Oct 29Oct 15201Louisburg, NC (2 mi)
Gaston8aMar 27Apr 9Nov 9Oct 28228Gastonia, NC (3 mi)
Gates8aApr 7Apr 25Nov 2Oct 19208Holland 1 E, VA (17 mi)
Graham7aApr 13May 2Oct 26Oct 12194Robbinsville Ag 5 NE, NC (8 mi)
Granville7bMar 30Apr 14Nov 6Oct 25222Oxford Ag, NC (3 mi)
Greene8aMar 26Apr 8Nov 12Nov 1232Snow Hill Waste Water Treament, NC (2 mi)
Guilford8aApr 1Apr 14Nov 4Oct 23217Greensboro Wtp, NC (1 mi)
Halifax8aMar 27Apr 8Nov 12Oct 31230Roanoke Rapids Airport, NC (13 mi)
Harnett8aMar 28Apr 11Nov 7Oct 26226Dunn 4 NW, NC (11 mi)
Haywood7aApr 30May 15Oct 14Oct 4167Waynesville 1 E, NC (5 mi)
Henderson7bApr 14May 1Oct 25Oct 12192Hendersonville 1 NE, NC (2 mi)
Hertford8aApr 6Apr 23Nov 1Oct 20208Murfreesboro, NC (8 mi)
Hoke8aApr 3Apr 19Nov 3Oct 20214Raeford, NC (2 mi)
Hyde8bMar 29Apr 10Nov 13Oct 31231Columbia Ag Gum Neck, NC (21 mi)
Iredell7bApr 16May 1Oct 25Oct 13191Statesville 2 NNE, NC (0 mi)
Jackson7aApr 19May 7Oct 22Oct 9184Cullowhee, NC (3 mi)
Johnston8aMar 29Apr 14Nov 5Oct 22220Smithfield, NC (1 mi)
Jones8bApr 5Apr 20Nov 4Oct 24214Richlands, NC (11 mi)
Lee8aApr 10Apr 25Oct 30Oct 15203Sanford 8 NE, NC (8 mi)
Lenoir8aMar 25Apr 7Nov 11Oct 29232Kinston Ag Rsch, NC (5 mi)
Lincoln8aApr 9Apr 27Oct 28Oct 15201Lincolnton 4 W, NC (6 mi)
Macon7bApr 17May 4Oct 23Oct 11187Franklin, NC (2 mi)
Madison7aApr 28May 13Oct 18Oct 6173Marshall, NC (5 mi)
Martin8aMar 20Apr 5Nov 12Oct 31239Williamston 1 E, NC (5 mi)
McDowell7bApr 5Apr 21Nov 1Oct 18209Marion, NC (2 mi)
Mecklenburg8aMar 30Apr 14Nov 3Oct 22221Charlotte Douglas Airport, NC (7 mi)
Mitchell7aApr 24May 13Oct 19Oct 7180Burnsville Ag, NC (9 mi)
Montgomery8aMar 25Apr 10Nov 14Oct 30235Jackson Springs 5 WNW, NC (17 mi)
Moore8aMar 25Apr 10Nov 14Oct 30235Jackson Springs 5 WNW, NC (13 mi)
Nash8aApr 1Apr 16Nov 5Oct 25219Rocky Mt Wilson Airport, NC (9 mi)
New Hanover8bMar 20Apr 8Nov 15Nov 2241Wilmington 7 SE, NC (3 mi)
Northampton8aApr 5Apr 18Nov 1Oct 20211Jackson, NC (2 mi)
Onslow8aMar 31Apr 15Nov 8Oct 27224Jacksonville Eoc, NC (6 mi)
Orange8aMar 31Apr 19Nov 4Oct 22217Durham 11 W, NC (7 mi)
Pamlico8bMar 30Apr 15Nov 8Oct 26224Bayboro 3 SW, NC (9 mi)
Pasquotank8aMar 27Apr 18Nov 17Nov 3238Elizabeth City, NC (4 mi)
Pender8aMar 29Apr 11Nov 8Oct 27226Wilmington 7 N, NC (13 mi)
Perquimans8aMar 28Apr 11Nov 12Oct 29230Elizabeth City Cgas, NC (14 mi)
Person7bApr 15Apr 30Oct 26Oct 12194Roxboro 7 ESE, NC (5 mi)
Pitt8aMar 27Apr 10Nov 8Oct 26227Greenville, NC (4 mi)
Polk8aMar 27Apr 14Nov 12Oct 29231Tryon, NC (7 mi)
Randolph8aApr 5Apr 21Oct 31Oct 18207Asheboro 2 W, NC (2 mi)
Richmond8aMar 30Apr 15Nov 4Oct 22220Hamlet, NC (9 mi)
Robeson8bMar 24Apr 9Nov 10Oct 27233Lumberton Muni Airport, NC (3 mi)
Rockingham7bApr 5Apr 21Nov 2Oct 21213Reidsville 2 NW, NC (5 mi)
Rowan7bApr 6Apr 27Oct 30Oct 19208Salisbury, NC (4 mi)
Rutherford8aApr 11Apr 28Oct 27Oct 14198Forest City 8 W, NC (7 mi)
Sampson8bMar 26Apr 8Nov 7Oct 26226Clinton 2 NE, NC (6 mi)
Scotland8aMar 21Apr 10Nov 14Nov 1239Laurinburg, NC (6 mi)
Stanly8aMar 29Apr 14Nov 4Oct 24220Albemarle, NC (7 mi)
Stokes7bApr 11Apr 29Oct 30Oct 18202Danbury, NC (6 mi)
Surry7bApr 19May 8Oct 23Oct 11186Mt Airy 2 W, NC (6 mi)
Swain7aMay 3May 17Oct 15Oct 1162Newfound Gap, TN (4 mi)
Transylvania7bApr 21May 7Oct 23Oct 11185Brevard, NC (5 mi)
Tyrrell8bMar 29Apr 10Nov 13Oct 31231Columbia Ag Gum Neck, NC (11 mi)
Union8aApr 3Apr 18Nov 1Oct 21213Monroe 2 SE, NC (1 mi)
Vance7bApr 16Apr 30Oct 26Oct 13193Henderson 2 NNW, NC (1 mi)
Wake8aMar 28Apr 12Nov 8Oct 28229Raleigh State Univ, NC (3 mi)
Warren8aApr 3Apr 19Nov 5Oct 16217Arcola, NC (10 mi)
Washington8aMar 31Apr 15Nov 7Oct 25221Plymouth 5 E, NC (5 mi)
Watauga7aMay 2May 19Oct 13Sep 30163Boone 1 SE, NC (4 mi)
Wayne8aMar 15Apr 1Nov 18Nov 2250Goldsboro 4 SE, NC (3 mi)
Wilkes7bApr 10Apr 26Oct 29Oct 16201N Wilkesboro, NC (3 mi)
Wilson8aMar 22Apr 8Nov 12Nov 1236Wilson 3 SW, NC (1 mi)
Yadkin7bApr 16May 3Oct 25Oct 11191Yadkinville 6 E, NC (7 mi)
Yancey7aApr 24May 13Oct 19Oct 7180Burnsville Ag, NC (3 mi)

10% columns: a freeze after the spring date, or before the fall date, happens in about 1 year in 10. Zones are USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zones.

When to plant in North Carolina: crop by crop

Planting dates for each crop in North Carolina, from the N.C. Cooperative Extension calendar.

TomatoesTomatoes
PeppersPeppers
PotatoesPotatoes
Sweet CornSweet Corn
Green BeansGreen Beans
CucumbersCucumbers
SquashSquash
LettuceLettuce
OnionsOnions
GarlicGarlic
PeasPeas
WatermelonWatermelon

North Carolina frost date questions

When is the last frost in North Carolina?

The average last spring frost (32°F, 50% chance) in North Carolina falls between Mar 8 in Beaufort County and May 7 in Ashe County. The first fall frost comes between Oct 8 (Ashe County) and Dec 5 (Beaufort County).

What does a 50% last frost date mean?

In half of the years from 1991 to 2020, the last 32°F night came on or after that date. Waiting until the 10% date cuts the risk to about 1 year in 10.

When is it safe to plant tomatoes in North Carolina?

Tender crops such as tomatoes and peppers go out after the last frost. Use the 10% date for your county for a safer margin; the N.C. Cooperative Extension planting calendar has the crop dates.

When is the first frost in North Carolina?

The 50% first fall frost ranges from Oct 8 in Ashe County to Dec 5 in Beaufort County.

How long is the growing season in North Carolina?

Between 154 days (Ashe County) and 272 days (Beaufort County) between the last and first 32°F freeze in half of years.

What is the difference between frost and a hard freeze?

These dates use 32°F, when tender plants are damaged. A 28°F hard freeze damages most hardy vegetables; the widget shows both.

Where do these frost dates come from?

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals for 1991 to 2020, freeze probability dates for each weather station. Each county uses its nearest station with a complete record.

Why does my county use a station in another county?

Not every county has a NOAA station with a full 30-year record. The station name, distance and elevation are listed so you can judge how close it is to your garden.

Open cotton field before autumn woods, Lee County
Open cotton field before autumn woods, Lee County

Photos: Savoy cabbage head and outer leaves covered in hoar frost in a vegetable garden: Schlaghecken Josef, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Open cotton field before autumn woods, Lee County: Donald Lee Pardue, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr; Corn harvest across flat Blacklands fields, Carteret County: SoilScience.info, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr; Tomato plant with fruit in a garden: MavisLee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Pepper plant in a kitchen garden loaded with green, yellow and red peppers: NPS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Potato plants growing in a home garden: Geo Lightspeed7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Rows of sweet corn in a field: Wee Hong, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Clusters of long green bean pods hanging from a climbing bean vine: Nirajan_pant, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Cucumber plants growing in a greenhouse bed: HARTLEPOOLMARINA2014, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Zucchini plant with a yellow flower: net_efekt from Oxford, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Heads of lettuce in a garden bed: Prenn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Long rows of green onion plants growing in sandy farm soil: ליזי שאנן, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons; Neat rows of young garlic shoots growing in dark tilled soil: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Rows of young pea plants in a vegetable patch: Kolforn (Kolforn), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Young watermelon plant in a garden: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, via Wikimedia Commons.