Frost dates for Lenoir, NC
At Lenoir, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 7 and the median first fall frost is Oct 31, for a typical growing season of 207 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 28. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8a.
- Apr 7Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 28Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 31First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 207 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 4 | Apr 21 | May 10 |
| 32°F | Mar 21 | Apr 7 | Apr 28 |
| 28°F | Mar 7 | Mar 25 | Apr 9 |
| 24°F | Feb 15 | Mar 11 | Mar 27 |
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 9 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F | Oct 18 | Oct 31 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F | Oct 28 | Nov 9 | Nov 27 |
| 24°F | Nov 8 | Nov 24 | Dec 15 |
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 | 161 days | 183 days | 204 days |
| 32°F | 184 days | 207 days | 227 days |
| 28°F | 208 days | 230 days | 254 days |
| 24°F | 233 days | 259 days | 288 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28645 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 7 km |
| 28638 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 9 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 USC00314938, at 35.9147, -81.5375, elevation 352 m (1,155 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 91.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hickory FAA Airport (24 km)
- Morganton (24 km)
- Blowing Rock 1nw (30 km)
- Taylorsville (33 km)
- Grandfather Mountain (33 km)
- Boone 1 SE (35 km)
- W Kerr Scott Resv (37 km)
- Banner Elk (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