Frost dates for Vale Ag 2 SW, NC
At Vale Ag 2 SW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 12 and the median first fall frost is Oct 28, for a typical growing season of 198 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 26. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Apr 12Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 26Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 198 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 11 | Apr 24 | May 10 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| 28°F | Mar 18 | Apr 1 | Apr 15 |
| 24°F | Mar 3 | Mar 24 | Apr 5 |
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 8 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Oct 16 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Oct 24 | Nov 5 | Nov 18 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 14 | Dec 2 |
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 | 159 days | 177 days | 196 days |
| 32°F | 179 days | 198 days | 217 days |
| 28°F | 202 days | 219 days | 240 days |
| 24°F | 219 days | 239 days | 264 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28168 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 4 km |
| 28042 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 13 km |
| 28090 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 13 km |
| 28020 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 18 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 USC00318906, at 35.5236, -81.4444, elevation 300 m (985 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 10 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 95.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Lincolnton 4 W (13 km)
- Hickory FAA Airport (25 km)
- Shelby 2 NW (26 km)
- Morganton (31 km)
- Catawba 5 SW (31 km)
- Gastonia (39 km)
- Lenoir (44 km)
- Gastonia Muni Airport (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