Frost dates for Cataloochee, NC
At Cataloochee, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 30 and the median first fall frost is Oct 12, for a typical growing season of 164 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 15. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7a.
- Apr 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 15Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 12First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 164 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 | Apr 27 | May 10 | May 28 |
| 32°F | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | May 15 |
| 28°F | Mar 31 | Apr 15 | May 2 |
| 24°F | Mar 15 | Mar 31 | Apr 15 |
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 | Sep 24 | Oct 5 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | Oct 3 | Oct 12 | Oct 22 |
| 28°F | Oct 9 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| 24°F | Oct 17 | Oct 31 | Nov 14 |
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 | 126 days | 146 days | 163 days |
| 32°F | 146 days | 164 days | 182 days |
| 28°F | 167 days | 187 days | 208 days |
| 24°F | 193 days | 215 days | 238 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28785 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 4 km |
| 28721 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 15 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 USC00311564, at 35.6375, -83.0956, elevation 808 m (2,650 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 131.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Waterville 2 (15 km)
- Waynesville 1 E (20 km)
- Cherokee (26 km)
- Cullowhee (37 km)
- Hot Springs (37 km)
- Candler 1 W (37 km)
- Bryson City 4 (39 km)
- Enka (41 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