Frost dates for Raleigh State Univ, NC
At Raleigh State Univ, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 28 and the median first fall frost is Nov 8, for a typical growing season of 229 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 12. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 28Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 12Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 229 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 25 | Apr 7 | Apr 21 |
| 32°F | Mar 8 | Mar 28 | Apr 12 |
| 28°F | Feb 22 | Mar 14 | Mar 31 |
| 24°F | Feb 2 | Feb 28 | Mar 19 |
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 18 | Oct 31 | Nov 14 |
| 32°F | Oct 28 | Nov 8 | Nov 27 |
| 28°F | Nov 6 | Nov 23 | Dec 15 |
| 24°F | Nov 18 | Dec 10 | Jan 7 |
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 | 187 days | 207 days | 227 days |
| 32°F | 208 days | 229 days | 255 days |
| 28°F | 230 days | 254 days | 284 days |
| 24°F | 256 days | 287 days | 321 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27695 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 2 km |
| 27607 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 4 km |
| 27605 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 4 km |
| 27608 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 5 km |
| 27601 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 6 km |
| 27612 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 7 km |
| 27697 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 7 km |
| 27609 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 8 km |
| 27604 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 13 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 USC00317079, at 35.7908, -78.6989, elevation 122 m (400 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 57.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Raleigh 4 SW (7 km)
- Cary (11 km)
- Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (14 km)
- Apex (14 km)
- Garner (14 km)
- Falls Lake (22 km)
- New Hill (23 km)
- Clayton Water Plant (27 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