Frost dates for Jefferson 2 E, NC
At Jefferson 2 E, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 7 and the median first fall frost is Oct 8, for a typical growing season of 154 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 24. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7a.
- May 7Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 24Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 154 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 | May 3 | May 19 | Jun 3 |
| 32°F | Apr 22 | May 7 | May 24 |
| 28°F | Apr 8 | Apr 25 | May 13 |
| 24°F | Mar 26 | Apr 11 | May 1 |
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 14 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 22 |
| 28°F | Oct 6 | Oct 18 | Nov 1 |
| 24°F | Oct 13 | Oct 28 | Nov 11 |
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 | 113 days | 135 days | 154 days |
| 32°F | 134 days | 154 days | 175 days |
| 28°F | 152 days | 175 days | 197 days |
| 24°F | 178 days | 200 days | 224 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28640 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 3 km |
| 28694 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 km |
| 28617 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 9 km |
| 28693 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 28631 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 15 km |
| 28643 | 7a | 0 to 5°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 USC00314496, at 36.4175, -81.4297, elevation 841 m (2,759 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 136.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Transou (11 km)
- Sparta 3.5 SSW (25 km)
- Boone 1 SE (30 km)
- W Kerr Scott Resv (37 km)
- N Wilkesboro (38 km)
- Blowing Rock 1nw (39 km)
- Flat Springs 1e (47 km)
- Beech Mountain (47 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