U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00316256 · North Carolina

Frost Dates for North Wilkesboro, NC

NOAA weather station North Wilkesboro (USC00316256), North Carolina · elevation 1120 ft (341 m) · hardiness zone 7b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 26only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1050% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2950% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season201 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at North Wilkesboro, NCSpring: a frost after March 25 in 9 years out of 10, after April 10 in half of the years, after April 26 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 16 in 1 year out of 10, before October 29 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 201 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 10First frost ~Oct 29Frost season at North Wilkesboro, NCSpring: a frost after March 25 in 9 years out of 10, after April 10 in half of the years, after April 26 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 16 in 1 year out of 10, before October 29 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 201 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 10First frost ~Oct 29
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)April 26October 16
50% (typical)April 10October 29
90% (likely)March 25November 10
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
201 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 27
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 8

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 8 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 1 (3 days later). Frost-free season 205 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 North Wilkesboro: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 26, 20% April 20, 30% April 16, 40% April 13, 50% April 10, 60% April 6, 70% April 3, 80% March 31, 90% March 25. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 23, 2022 April 20, 2023 April 11, 2024 April 8, 2025 April 14, 2026 April 10.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 26Apr 10Mar 252021: April 232022: April 202023: April 112024: April 82025: April 142026: April 10Fall at North Wilkesboro: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 16, 20% October 21, 30% October 24, 40% October 27, 50% October 29, 60% November 1, 70% November 3, 80% November 6, 90% November 10. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 5, 2022 October 20, 2024 October 17, 2025 November 1.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Oct 16Oct 29Nov 102021: November 52022: October 202024: October 172025: November 1
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
2021April 23November 5
2022April 20October 20
2023April 11incomplete record
2024April 8October 17
2025April 14November 1
2026April 10season not over yet

What these dates mean

201 days separate the two 32°F 50% dates—April 10 and October 29—creating a long period in which tender crops can be grown at North Wilkesboro. Garden tasks such as sowing seedlings, transplanting, and final harvesting are planned within that interval. For a gardener the 50% date simply marks the point where the chance of a light frost later in spring or earlier in fall is exactly even.

The cautious spring date is April 26, when there is only a 10% chance of a light frost later, while March 25 carries a 90% chance and is a gamble. In the fall the cautious date is October 16, with only a 10% chance of a light frost earlier, and November 10 is the 90% gamble. The median hard-frost dates are March 27 and November 8, indicating when a 28°F frost is equally likely. The 27-year record for this station provides the basis for the percentages shown.

A hard frost at 28°F can injure plant tissue that usually survives a light frost at 32°F, so it represents a higher risk for tender crops.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 26" 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 October 16" 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 North Wilkesboro, NCNumbered nearest stations: 1 — West Kerr Scott Resv, NC — 5 mi; 2 — Jefferson, NC — 23 mi; 3 — Lenoir, NC — 28 mi; 4 — Boone, NC — 28 mi; 5 — Statesville, NC — 29 mi.NCVATN25 mi · 40 km1. West Kerr Scott Resv, NC — 5 mi12. Jefferson, NC — 23 mi23. Lenoir, NC — 28 mi34. Boone, NC — 28 mi45. Statesville, NC — 29 mi5
  1. West Kerr Scott Resv, NC 5 mi (8 km)
  2. Jefferson, NC 23 mi (38 km)
  3. Lenoir, NC 28 mi (44 km)
  4. Boone, NC 28 mi (45 km)
  5. Statesville, NC 29 mi (46 km)

Sources

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

Station coordinates: 36.1639, -81.1536.