Frost dates for Old Fort Ag 3 W, NC
At Old Fort Ag 3 W, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 21 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, for a typical growing season of 183 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 21Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 183 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 18 | May 4 | May 20 |
| 32°F | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | May 9 |
| 28°F | Mar 22 | Apr 7 | Apr 22 |
| 24°F | Mar 6 | Mar 25 | Apr 9 |
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 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 28 |
| 32°F | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Oct 16 | Nov 1 | Nov 13 |
| 24°F | Oct 25 | Nov 9 | Nov 27 |
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 | 142 days | 162 days | 182 days |
| 32°F | 162 days | 183 days | 205 days |
| 28°F | 186 days | 207 days | 229 days |
| 24°F | 207 days | 230 days | 253 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28762 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 7 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 USC00316380, at 35.6672, -82.1236, elevation 434 m (1,425 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 10 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 108.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Marion (11 km)
- Mount Mitchell (17 km)
- Celo 2 S (19 km)
- N Fk 2 (20 km)
- Black Mountain 2 W (22 km)
- Swannanoa 2 SSE (26 km)
- Lake Lure 2 (28 km)
- Spruce Pine 2 NE (31 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