U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00310982 · North Carolina

Frost Dates for Boone, NC

NOAA weather station Boone 1 SE (USC00310982), North Carolina · elevation 3100 ft (945 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 19only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMay 250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season163 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Boone, NCSpring: a frost after April 17 in 9 years out of 10, after May 2 in half of the years, after May 19 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 30 in 1 year out of 10, before October 13 in half of the years, before October 27 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 163 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~May 2First frost ~Oct 13Frost season at Boone, NCSpring: a frost after April 17 in 9 years out of 10, after May 2 in half of the years, after May 19 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 30 in 1 year out of 10, before October 13 in half of the years, before October 27 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 163 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~May 2First frost ~Oct 13
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 19September 30
50% (typical)May 2October 13
90% (likely)April 17October 27
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
163 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 19
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 24

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost May 1 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 16 (3 days later). Frost-free season 167 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Boone: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 19, 20% May 14, 30% May 10, 40% May 6, 50% May 2, 60% April 30, 70% April 26, 80% April 22, 90% April 17. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 16, 2022 April 21, 2023 May 6, 2024 April 24, 2025 April 18, 2026 May 13.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1Jun 1May 19May 2Apr 172021: May 162022: April 212023: May 62024: April 242025: April 182026: May 13Fall at Boone: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 30, 20% October 4, 30% October 8, 40% October 10, 50% October 13, 60% October 15, 70% October 18, 80% October 22, 90% October 27. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 5, 2022 September 28, 2023 October 9, 2024 October 11, 2025 October 18.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Sep 30Oct 13Oct 272021: November 52022: September 282023: October 92024: October 112025: October 18
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021May 16November 5
2022April 21September 28
2023May 6October 9
2024April 24October 11
2025April 18October 18
2026May 13season not over yet

What these dates mean

September 30 marks the cautious fall date in Boone, a point when there is only a 10 % chance that a light frost has arrived, making it the recommended latest day to finish harvesting tender crops. The later date of October 27 carries a 90 % chance of a frost and therefore represents a gamble for late-season plantings.

In spring the cautious date for setting out tender crops is May 19, when a light frost is still possible only 10 % of the time; planting earlier on April 17 carries a 90 % chance of frost and is a gamble. The 50 % dates are May 2 and October 13, each representing an even chance of a light frost for the respective season.

Hard frost at 28 °F is more damaging than a light frost, so the median hard-frost dates of April 19 and October 24 are especially important for gardeners.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 19" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before September 30" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Boone, NCNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Banner Elk, NC — 13 mi; 2 — Jefferson, NC — 19 mi; 3 — near Mountain City, TN — 20 mi; 4 — Lenoir, NC — 22 mi; 5 — West Kerr Scott Resv, NC — 24 mi.NCVATN25 mi · 40 km1. near Banner Elk, NC — 13 mi12. Jefferson, NC — 19 mi23. near Mountain City, TN — 20 mi34. Lenoir, NC — 22 mi45. West Kerr Scott Resv, NC — 24 mi5
  1. near Banner Elk, NC 13 mi (21 km)
  2. Jefferson, NC 19 mi (30 km)
  3. near Mountain City, TN 20 mi (32 km)
  4. Lenoir, NC 22 mi (35 km)
  5. West Kerr Scott Resv, NC 24 mi (39 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 36.2139, -81.6456.