Frost dates for Clayton 3e, NC
At Clayton 3e, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 28 and the median first fall frost is Nov 8, for a typical growing season of 225 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 28Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 225 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 26 | Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| 32°F | Mar 10 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 |
| 28°F | Feb 23 | Mar 15 | Apr 1 |
| 24°F | Feb 4 | Feb 28 | Mar 21 |
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 | Oct 17 | Oct 31 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F | Oct 27 | Nov 8 | Nov 22 |
| 28°F | Nov 4 | Nov 19 | Dec 9 |
| 24°F | Nov 15 | Dec 5 | Jan 4 |
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 | 183 days | 203 days | 223 days |
| 32°F | 204 days | 225 days | 249 days |
| 28°F | 226 days | 251 days | 280 days |
| 24°F | 252 days | 284 days | 316 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27527 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 3 km |
| 27593 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 6 km |
| 27591 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 17 km |
| 27557 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 24 km |
| 27597 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 25 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 USC00311817, at 35.6350, -78.3981, elevation 101 m (332 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 6 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 61.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Clayton Water Plant (6 km)
- Smithfield (14 km)
- Garner (24 km)
- Raleigh 4 SW (28 km)
- Raleigh State Univ (32 km)
- Cary (36 km)
- Wilson 3 SW (41 km)
- Apex (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