Frost dates for Southport 5 N, NC
At Southport 5 N, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 24 and the median first fall frost is Nov 17, for a typical growing season of 239 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 10. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Mar 24Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 10Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 17First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 239 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 17 | Apr 4 | Apr 19 |
| 32°F | Mar 1 | Mar 24 | Apr 10 |
| 28°F | Feb 7 | Mar 8 | Mar 30 |
| 24°F | Jan 14 | Feb 18 | Mar 18 |
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 21 | Nov 5 | Nov 23 |
| 32°F | Oct 31 | Nov 17 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F | Nov 10 | Dec 1 | Dec 30 |
| 24°F | Nov 26 | Dec 18 | Jan 21 |
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 | 194 days | 215 days | 238 days |
| 32°F | 213 days | 239 days | 268 days |
| 28°F | 239 days | 268 days | 303 days |
| 24°F | 266 days | 301 days | 340 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 98% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28461 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 6 km |
| 28449 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 7 km |
| 28428 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 11 km |
| 28479 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 12 km |
| 28465 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 13 km |
| 28422 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 20 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 USC00318113, at 33.9947, -78.0078, elevation 6 m (20 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 51.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Wilmington 7 SE (20 km)
- Wilmington Intl Airport (32 km)
- Shallotte Ag (36 km)
- Wilmington 7 N (37 km)
- Longwood (50 km)
- Moores Creek Nb (52 km)
- Surf City (64 km)
- Willard 4 SW (74 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