Frost dates for Beaufort Michael J Smith Field, NC
At Beaufort Michael J Smith Field, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 10 and the median first fall frost is Dec 1, for a typical growing season of 265 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 26. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9a.
- Mar 10Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 26Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 265 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 6 | Mar 21 | Apr 6 |
| 32°F | Feb 18 | Mar 10 | Mar 26 |
| 28°F | Jan 29 | Feb 23 | Mar 16 |
| 24°F | Jan 8 | Feb 2 | Mar 3 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | Dec 4 |
| 32°F | Nov 10 | Dec 1 | Dec 24 |
| 28°F | Nov 25 | Dec 17 | Jan 13 |
| 24°F | Dec 9 | Jan 4 | Jan 30 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 216 days | 239 days | 264 days |
| 32°F | 240 days | 265 days | 295 days |
| 28°F | 267 days | 296 days | 329 days |
| 24°F | 296 days | 329 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 99% |
| 24°F | 90% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28531 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 10 km |
| 28528 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 11 km |
| 28553 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 14 km |
| 28516 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 14 km |
| 28579 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 17 km |
| 28589 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 17 km |
| 28524 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 19 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USW00093765, at 34.7336, -76.6606, elevation 3 m (11 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 19 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 28.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Morehead City 2 WNW (7 km)
- Atlantic Beach Water Plant (8 km)
- Newport/morehead City WFO (20 km)
- Cherry Point MCAS (27 km)
- Cedar Island (43 km)
- Bayboro 3 SW (46 km)
- Reelsboro (50 km)
- New Bern Craven Co Airport (51 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.
All North Carolina stations · How frost dates are calculated