Frost dates for Elkin, NC
At Elkin, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 15 and the median first fall frost is Oct 26, for a typical growing season of 194 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 3. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 15Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 3Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 194 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 14 | Apr 29 | May 14 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Apr 15 | May 3 |
| 28°F | Mar 17 | Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| 24°F | Mar 2 | Mar 21 | Apr 6 |
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 8 | Oct 18 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F | Oct 14 | Oct 26 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Oct 23 | Nov 4 | Nov 17 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 13 | Dec 5 |
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 | 153 days | 173 days | 193 days |
| 32°F | 173 days | 194 days | 213 days |
| 28°F | 198 days | 217 days | 239 days |
| 24°F | 217 days | 239 days | 266 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28642 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 5 km |
| 28621 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 7 km |
| 28670 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 8 km |
| 28676 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 9 km |
| 28669 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 12 km |
| 28683 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 16 km |
| 27011 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 16 km |
| 27020 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 16 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 USC00312740, at 36.2547, -80.8639, elevation 277 m (910 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 10 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 112.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- N Wilkesboro (28 km)
- Yadkinville 6 E (32 km)
- Mount Airy 2 W (33 km)
- Sparta 3.5 SSW (34 km)
- W Kerr Scott Resv (35 km)
- Transou (43 km)
- Pfafftown (46 km)
- Taylorsville (46 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