North Carolina Frost Dates: Last and First Frost by Town

187 NOAA weather stations · 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals · Data updated 2026-10-29

Quick answer

Across North Carolina's 187 NOAA stations with regular frost, the median last spring frost is April 1 and the median first fall frost is November 4. Last frost dates range from March 1 at Frisco 2NNE to May 16 at Mount Mitchell, so enter your ZIP code below for the station nearest you.

How frost dates vary across North Carolina

Elevation matters: across North Carolina's stations, each 1,000 ft of elevation delays the median last frost by about 10 days.
North vs south: stations in the northern third of the state (north of 35.8°N) reach their median last frost about 9 days later than the southern third (south of 35.3°N).
Safety margin: the median 10%-risk date (April 17) is about 16 days after the median last frost. Waiting until then cuts the chance of a killing frost on tender transplants from 1 in 2 to 1 in 10.

Frost dates at North Carolina's major weather stations

These National Weather Service stations, mostly at airports, have the longest and most complete records in the state.


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 Regional Airport	2,117	Apr 9	Apr 27	Oct 28	201
Beaufort Michael J Smith Field	11	Mar 10	Mar 26	Dec 1	265
Burlington Alamance Airport	617	Apr 1	Apr 17	Nov 2	215
Cape Hatteras Airport	11	Mar 4	Mar 25	Dec 22	290
Chapel Hill Williams Airport	512	Mar 29	Apr 12	Nov 5	222
Charlotte Douglas Airport	728	Mar 30	Apr 14	Nov 3	221
Cherry Point McAs	29	Mar 19	Apr 4	Nov 22	249
Durham 11 W	562	Mar 31	Apr 19	Nov 4	217
Elizabeth City Cgas	13	Mar 28	Apr 11	Nov 12	230
Fayetteville Regional Airport	186	Mar 22	Apr 8	Nov 13	236
Gastonia Municipal Airport	797	Mar 24	Apr 10	Nov 9	230
Goldsboro 4 SE	109	Mar 15	Apr 1	Nov 18	250
Hickory Faa Airport	1,143	Mar 31	Apr 16	Nov 4	219
Laurinburg Maxton Airport	220	Mar 25	Apr 11	Nov 8	228
Lumberton Municipal Airport	121	Mar 24	Apr 9	Nov 10	233
Manteo Airport	13	Mar 15	Mar 30	Dec 6	266
Monroe Airport	679	Mar 31	Apr 16	Nov 5	220
New Bern Craven County Airport	19	Mar 23	Apr 7	Nov 15	237
New River McAf	26	Mar 23	Apr 7	Nov 16	240
Piedmont Triad Intl Airport	890	Mar 30	Apr 14	Nov 5	220
Raleigh Durham Intl Airport	416	Mar 31	Apr 16	Nov 4	219
Roanoke Rapids Airport	256	Mar 27	Apr 8	Nov 12	230
Rocky Mount Wilson Airport	160	Apr 1	Apr 16	Nov 5	219
Wilmington Intl Airport	33	Mar 19	Apr 4	Nov 20	247
Winston Salem Rynlds Airport	970	Mar 26	Apr 11	Nov 9	228

All 187 stations in North Carolina

Last frost and first frost are medians: a 50% chance of a 32°F night after (spring) or before (fall) that date. 10% risk is the spring date with only a 1-in-10 chance of a later frost. Click a column to sort.

Filter by station name


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 Regional 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 Field	11	Mar 10	Mar 26	Dec 1	265
Beech Mountain	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 Mountain 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 Station #5	660	Mar 29	Apr 15	Nov 9	226
Burnsville Agricultural	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 Island	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 Agricultural Gum Neck	10	Mar 29	Apr 10	Nov 13	231
Concord	700	Apr 1	Apr 16	Nov 2	215
Coweeta Experiment Station	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 Regional 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 Municipal Airport	797	Mar 24	Apr 10	Nov 9	230
Goldsboro 4 SE	109	Mar 15	Apr 1	Nov 18	250
Goldsboro Agricultural 1 N	109	Mar 28	Apr 11	Nov 12	231
Grandfather Mountain	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 River 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 Point	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 Agricultural 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 River State Park	96	Apr 1	Apr 16	Nov 5	219
Lumberton	112	Mar 24	Apr 8	Nov 11	234
Lumberton Municipal 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
Mount Airy 2 W	1,080	Apr 19	May 8	Oct 23	186
Mount Mitchell	6,240	May 16	May 31	Oct 4	140
Mount 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 County 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 Fort Agricultural 3 W	1,425	Apr 21	May 9	Oct 23	183
Oxford Agricultural	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 University	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 Agricultural 5 NE	2,330	Apr 13	May 2	Oct 26	194
Rocky Mount 8 ESE	110	Mar 31	Apr 13	Nov 7	223
Rocky Mount 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 Agricultural	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 Agricultural 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

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in North Carolina?

The median last spring frost (32°F) across North Carolina's NOAA weather stations is April 1, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. It ranges from March 1 at Frisco 2NNE to May 16 at Mount Mitchell. For a safer planting date, use the 10%-risk date; the state median for that is April 17.

When is the first frost in North Carolina?

The median first fall frost across North Carolina's stations is November 4. The earliest median first frost is October 4 at Mount Mitchell, and the latest is December 22 at Cape Hatteras Airport.

How long is the growing season in North Carolina?

The median frost-free season is 217 days across North Carolina's stations, from 140 days at Mount Mitchell to 293 days at Ocracoke.

When should I plant tomatoes in North Carolina?

Plant tomatoes outdoors after your local last frost, ideally after the 10%-risk date when nights stay above 50°F. At a typical North Carolina station that means starting seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before April 1 and transplanting from about April 17. Check your ZIP code, because dates vary by weeks across the state.

How to use these dates

Frost dates are 30-year averages from NOAA, not forecasts. Use them to plan seed starting and planting, then watch the 10-day forecast as the date approaches. Cold air settles in valleys and low spots, so a garden at the bottom of a slope can frost a week or more later in spring than the nearest station shows.

Ready to plan? The planting calendar by ZIP code turns these dates into start-indoors, transplant and sowing dates for 30 crops.

Sources and method

Dates are the 32°F freeze probabilities published in the NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for each station. Station names are NOAA's, lightly expanded for readability. See the methodology or download the full table.