Frost dates for Raeford, NC
At Raeford, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 3, for a typical growing season of 214 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b.
- Apr 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 3First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 214 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 | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | May 1 |
| 32°F | Mar 17 | Apr 3 | Apr 19 |
| 28°F | Mar 1 | Mar 22 | Apr 8 |
| 24°F | Feb 14 | Mar 7 | Mar 29 |
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 12 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 |
| 32°F | Oct 20 | Nov 3 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F | Oct 31 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 |
| 24°F | Nov 7 | Nov 26 | Dec 26 |
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 | 173 days | 193 days | 212 days |
| 32°F | 196 days | 214 days | 235 days |
| 28°F | 214 days | 238 days | 264 days |
| 24°F | 237 days | 262 days | 297 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28376 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 7 km |
| 28357 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 16 km |
| 28386 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 16 km |
| 28396 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 18 km |
| 28378 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 21 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 USC00317056, at 34.9869, -79.2189, elevation 76 m (250 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 82.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Laurinburg Maxton Airport (26 km)
- Fayetteville Regional Airport (31 km)
- Fayetteville (pwc) (34 km)
- Laurinburg (35 km)
- Carthage Water Plant (42 km)
- Lumberton (44 km)
- Lumberton Muni Airport (45 km)
- Hamlet (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