Frost dates for N Wilkesboro, NC
At N Wilkesboro, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 10 and the median first fall frost is Oct 29, for a typical growing season of 201 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 26. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 10Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 26Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 29First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 201 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 8 | Apr 24 | May 11 |
| 32°F | Mar 25 | Apr 10 | Apr 26 |
| 28°F | Mar 9 | Mar 27 | Apr 11 |
| 24°F | Feb 20 | Mar 13 | Apr 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 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F | Oct 16 | Oct 29 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F | Oct 27 | Nov 8 | Nov 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 6 | Nov 22 | Dec 10 |
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 | 157 days | 178 days | 198 days |
| 32°F | 180 days | 201 days | 225 days |
| 28°F | 205 days | 226 days | 250 days |
| 24°F | 229 days | 253 days | 281 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28697 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 3 km |
| 28659 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 6 km |
| 28689 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 24 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 USC00316256, at 36.1639, -81.1536, elevation 341 m (1,120 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 104.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- W Kerr Scott Resv (8 km)
- Taylorsville (27 km)
- Elkin (28 km)
- Transou (30 km)
- Sparta 3.5 SSW (33 km)
- Jefferson 2 E (38 km)
- Lenoir (44 km)
- Boone 1 SE (45 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