Revised 12/96 -- Author Reviewed 12/98 HIL-707
Frost forms on solid objects when the water vapor in the atmosphere changes from its vapor phase to small ice crystals. Frost is not frozen dew. If you see frost than you know that the temperature of the object it is on reached 32 0F or lower. However, the air temperature, measured at five feet above ground in the vicinity of this object, is likely several degrees higher. Conversely, not every air temperature recorded at or below 32 0F means frost formed on solid objects in the area. In spite of this, the average date of the last spring air temperature of 32 0F has traditionally been called the last frost date. The dates presented in this leaflet are the average date of the last recorded air temperature at 32 0F or lower for the period 1951 - 1980.
The standard deviation is an important statistic to consider along with the average date. The standard deviation tells the amount of dispersion around the average. The average date plus one standard deviation gives the date after which there is still a 16% chance of frost. A frost will occur after this date about twice in every 10 year period. For example, in Albemarle a frost will occur after April 17 (the average date of April 8 plus one standard deviation of 9 days) about twice in every 10 year period. The average date plus two standard deviations gives the date after which there is only a 2% chance of frost. A frost will occur after this date about twice in every 100 year period. For example, in Albemarle a frost will occur after April 26 (the average date of April 8 plus two standard deviations of 9 days) about twice in every 100 year period. Choosing the average date as guidance for planting decisions can result in frost damage once in every two years. Using the standard deviation affords a more conservative planting date decision.
For information on how to protect plants from frost and freeze damage see Horticulture Information Leaflet No. 705 A, Frost/Freeze Protection for Horticultural Crops and consult the references listed below.
Below the last spring frost data are listed by Station Name (Table 1) and by County (Table 2).
There are several published references for North Carolina climate data. Average First Fall Frost Dates for Selected North Carolina Locations
Frost forms on solid objects when the water vapor in the atmosphere changes from its vapor phase to small ice crystals. Frost is not frozen dew. If you see frost than you know that the temperature of the object it is on reached 32 0F or lower. However, the air temperature, measured at five feet above ground in the vicinity of this object, is likely several degrees higher. Conversely, not every air temperature recorded at or below 32 0F means frost formed on solid objects in the area. In spite of this, the average date of the last spring air temperature of 32 0F has traditionally been called the last frost date. The dates presented in this leaflet are the average date of the last recorded air temperature at 32 0F or lower for the period 1951 - 1980. The standard deviation is an important statistic to consider along with the average date. The standard deviation tells the amount of dispersion around the average. The average date minus one standard deviation gives the date before which there is only a 16% chance of frost. A frost will occur before this date about twice in every 10 year period. For example, in Albemarle a frost will occur before October 13 (the average date of Ocotber 25 minus one standard deviation of 12 days) about twice in every 10 year period. The average date minus two standard deviations gives the date before which there is only a 2% chance of frost. A frost will occur before this date about twice in every 100 year period. For example, in Albemarle a frost will occur before October 1 (the average date of October 25 minus two standard deviations of 12 days) about twice in every 100 year period.
For information on how to protect plants from frost and freeze damage see Horticulture Information Leaflet No. 705 A, Frost/Freeze Protection for Horticultural Crops and consult the references listed below.
Below the first fall frost data are listed by Station Name (Table 1) and by County (Table 2).
There are several published references for North Carolina climate data. These references are available from the North Carolina State University Department of Communication Services, Publications, Box 7603, Raleigh, NC 27695-7603; (919) 515-2861.
Station County Average Standard Albemarle 4 N Stanly October 25 12 Andrews 2 E Cherokee October 10 10 Asheboro 2 W Randolph October 31 12 Asheville Buncombe October 23 11 Banner Elk Avery October 2 11 Bent Creek Buncombe October 9 11 Black Mountain Buncombe October 17 10 Blowing Rock Watauga October 11 9 Brevard Transylvania October 8 9 Burlington Alamance November 1 11 Canton 1 SW Haywood October 10 9 Celo 2 S Yancey September 27 18 Chapel Hill 2 W Orange October 23 10 Charlotte WSO AP Mecklenburg November 5 13 Clinton Sampson October 29 11 Concord Cabarrus November 2 12 Coweeta Exp Station Macon October 7 8 Cullowhee Jackson October 11 9 Durham Durham October 24 10 Edenton Chowan November 11 12 Elizabeth City FAA AP Pasquotank November 7 12 Enka Buncombe October 20 10 Fayetteville Cumberland October 31 9 Franklin 1 SSW Macon October 12 8 Gastonia Gaston November 1 14 Goldsboro 1 SSW Wayne October 30 9 Greensboro Pump Station Guilford October 28 10 Greensboro WSO AP Guilford October 27 10 Greenville Pitt October 30 10 Hamlet Richmond October 24 8 Hatteras Dare December 11 15 Henderson 2 NNW Vance October 23 9 Hendersonville 1 NE Henderson October 12 9 Hickory Burke October 30 11 Highlands 2 S Macon October 22 12 High Point Guilford October 30 12 Hot Springs 2 Madison October 21 10 Jackson Northampton October 26 8 Kinston 5 E Lenoir October 29 13 Laurinburg Scotland November 1 11 Lenoir Caldwell October 21 11 Lexington Davidson October 31 12 Lumberton 6 NW Robeson October 28 12 Marion McDowell October 31 13 Marshall Madison October 15 10 Maysville 6 W Jones October 24 13 Monroe 4 SE Union October 25 10 Morehead City 2 WNW Carteret November 19 13 Morganton Burke October 18 9 Mount Airy Surry October 15 9 Nashville Nash October 30 11 New Bern FAA AP Craven November 9 13 New Holland Hyde November 11 11 Oxford 2 SW Granville October 28 12 Pisgah Forest 1 N Transvylvania October 10 7 Plymouth 5 E Washington October 25 11 Raleigh-Durham WSO AP Wake October 27 9 Raleigh 4 SW Wake November 1 14 Raleigh NCSU Wake Noember 5 13 Reidsville 2 NW Rockingham October 27 11 Rocky Mount 8 ESE Edgecombe October 25 10 Rowan Research Station Rowan October 20 8 Salisbury Rowan October 26 10 Sanford 8 NE Lee October 22 10 Shelby 2 NNE Cleveland October 25 9 Siler City 2 NW Chatham October 15 10 Smithfield Johnston October 25 10 Southport 5 N Brunswick November 12 14 Statesville 2 NNE Iredell October 19 12 Tarboro 1 S Edgecombe October 28 11 Transou Ashe October 1 10 Tryon Polk October 29 11 Wadesboro Anson November 4 12 Waterville 2 Haywood October 26 12 Waynesville 1 E Haywood October 8 10 Whiteville 7 NW Columbus October 31 11 Willard 4 SW Pender November 1 12 Williamston 1 ENE Martin November 3 12 Wilmington 7 N New Hanover November 3 12 Wilmington WSO AP New Hanover November 14 13 Wilson 3 SW Wilson October 29 10 . . . .
Name
Date
Deviation
(days)
County Station Average Standard Alamance Burlington November 1 11 Anson Wadesboro November 4 12 Ashe Transou October 1 10 Avery Banner Elk October 2 11 Brunswick Southport 5 N November 12 14 Buncombe Asheville October 23 11 . Black Mountain October 17 10 . Bent Creek October 9 11 . Enka October 20 10 Burke Morganton October 18 9 . Hickory October 30 11 Cabarrus Concord November 2 12 Caldwell Lenoir October 21 11 Carteret Morehead City 2 WNW November 19 13 Chatham Siler City 2 NW October 15 10 Cherokee Andrews 2 E October 10 10 Chowan Edenton November 11 12 Cleveland Shelby 2 NNE October 25 9 Columbus Whiteville 7 NW October 31 11 Craven New Bern FAA AP November 9 13 Cumberland Fayetteville October 31 9 Dare Hatteras December 11 15 Davidson Lexington October 31 12 Durham Durham October 24 10 Edgecombe Rocky Mount 8 ESE October 25 10 . Tarboro 1 S October 28 11 Gaston Gastonia November 1 14 Granville Oxford 2 SW October 28 12 Guilford High Point October 30 12 . Greensboro Pump Station October 28 10 . Greensboro WSO AP October 27 10 Haywood Canton 1 SW October 10 9 . Waynesville 1 E October 8 10 . Waterville 2 October 26 12 Henderson Hendersonville 1 NE October 12 9 Hyde New Holland November 11 11 Iredell Statesville 2 NNE October 19 12 Jackson Cullowhee October 11 9 Johnston Smithfield October 25 10 Jones Maysville 6 W October 24 13 Lee Sanford 8 NE October 22 10 Lenoir Kinston 5 E October 29 13 Macon Coweeta Exp Station October 7 8 . Highlands 2 S October 22 12 . Franklin 1 SSW October 12 8 Madison Marshall October 15 10 . Hot Springs 2 October 21 10 Martin Williamston 1 ENE November 3 12 McDowell Marion October 31 13 Mecklenburg Charlotte WSO AP November 5 13 Nash Nashville October 30 11 New Hanover Wilmington WSO AP November 14 13 . Wilmington 7 N November 3 12 Northampton Jackson October 26 8 Orange Chapel Hill 2 W October 23 10 Pasquotank Elizabeth City FAA AP November 7 12 Pender Willard 4 SW November 1 12 Pitt Greenville October 30 10 Polk Tryon October 29 11 Randolph Asheboro 2 W October 31 12 Richmond Hamlet October 24 8 Robeson Lumberton 6 NW October 28 12 Rockingham Reidsville 2 NW October 27 11 Rowan Salisbury October 26 10 . Rowan Research Station October 20 8 Sampson Clinton October 29 11 Scotland Laurinburg November 1 11 Stanly Albemarle 4 N October 25 12 Surry Mount Airy October 15 9 Transvylvania Pisgah Forest 1 N October 10 7 . Brevard October 8 9 Union Monroe 4 SE October 25 10 Vance Henderson 2 NNW October 23 9 Wake Raleigh NCSU Noember 5 13 . Raleigh 4 SW November 1 14 . Raleigh-Durham WSO AP October 27 9 Washington Plymouth 5 E October 25 11 Watauga Blowing Rock October 11 9 Wayne Goldsboro 1 SSW October 30 9 Wilson Wilson 3 SW October 29 10 Yancey Celo 2 S September 27 18 . . . .
Name
Date
Deviation
(days)
Station County Average Standard Albemarle 4 N Stanly April 8 9 Andrews 2 E Cherokee May 4 11 Asheboro 2 W Randolph April 5 12 Asheville Buncombe April 10 10 Banner Elk Avery May 13 17 Bent Creek Buncombe May 5 11 Black Mountain Buncombe April 27 13 Blowing Rock Watauga May 3 14 Brevard Transylvania May 3 11 Burlington Alamance April 1 10 Canton 1 SW Haywood May 4 11 Celo 2 S Yancey May 18 13 Chapel Hill 2 W Orange April 15 12 Charlotte WSO AP Mecklenburg April 2 12 Clinton Sampson April 1 12 Concord Cabarrus April 2 11 Coweeta Exp Station Macon May 7 14 Cullowhee Jackson May 3 13 Durham Durham April 13 12 Edenton Chowan March 23 11 Elizabeth City FAA AP Pasquotank March 31 11 Enka Buncombe April 21 15 Fayetteville Cumberland April 2 12 Franklin 1 SSW Macon May 4 12 Gastonia Gaston April 6 15 Goldsboro 1 SSW Wayne March 28 13 Greensboro Pump Station Guilford April 6 9 Greensboro WSO AP Guilford April 11 8 Greenville Pitt April 1 11 Hamlet Richmond April 9 11 Hatteras Dare March 3 20 Henderson 2 NNW Vance April 21 13 Hendersonville 1 NE Henderson April 26 13 Hickory Burke April 8 11 Highlands 2 S Macon April 25 14 High Point Guilford April 3 10 Hot Springs 2 Madison April 21 12 Jackson Northampton April 11 11 Kinston 5 E Lenoir March 29 14 Laurinburg Scotland March 20 10 Lenoir Caldwell April 16 12 Lexington Davidson March 31 11 Lumberton 6 NW Robeson April 4 14 Marion McDowell April 9 11 Marshall Madison April 29 14 Maysville 6 W Jones April 22 11 Monroe 4 SE Union April 12 12 Morehead City 2 WNW Carteret March 20 17 Morganton Burke April 21 14 Mount Airy Surry April 22 13 Nashville Nash April 4 13 New Bern FAA AP Craven March 22 12 New Holland Hyde March 30 13 Oxford 2 SW Granville April 5 11 Pisgah Forest 1 N Transvylvania May 2 12 Plymouth 5 E Washington April 13 12 Raleigh-Durham WSO AP Wake April 11 14 Raleigh 4 SW Wake April 1 11 Raleigh NCSU Wake March 30 10 Reidsville 2 NW Rockingham April 7 11 Rocky Mount 8 ESE Edgecombe April 5 14 Rowan Research Station Rowan April 17 10 Salisbury Rowan April 9 11 Sanford 8 NE Lee April 19 12 Shelby 2 NNE Cleveland April 12 12 Siler City 2 NW Chatham April 26 12 Smithfield Johnston April 7 12 Southport 5 N Brunswick March 19 16 Statesville 2 NNE Iredell April 23 14 Tarboro 1 S Edgecombe April 5 14 Transou Ashe May 15 15 Tryon Polk April 5 15 Wadesboro Anson March 28 11 Waterville 2 Haywood April 10 16 Waynesville 1 E Haywood May 7 11 Whiteville 7 NW Columbus April 2 15 Willard 4 SW Pender April 4 13 Williamston 1 ENE Martin March 29 11 Wilmington 7 N New Hanover April 6 13 Wilmington WSO AP New Hanover March 17 10 Wilson 3 SW Wilson April 2 10 . . . .
Name
Date
Deviation
(days)
County Station Average Standard Alamance Burlington April1 10 Anson Wadesboro March 28 11 Ashe Transou May 15 15 Avery Banner Elk May 13 17 Brunswick Southport 5 N March 19 16 Buncombe Enka April 21 15 . Black Mountain April 27 13 . Asheville April 10 10 . Bent Creek May 5 11 Burke Morganton April 21 14 . Hickory April 8 11 Cabarrus Concord April 2 11 Caldwell Lenoir April 16 12 Carteret Morehead City 2 WNW March 20 17 Chatham Siler City 2 NW April 26 12 Cherokee Andrews 2 E May 4 11 Chowan Edenton March 23 11 Cleveland Shelby 2 NNE April 12 12 Columbus Whiteville 7 NW April 2 15 Craven New Bern FAA AP March 22 12 Cumberland Fayetteville April 2 12 Dare Hatteras March 3 20 Davidson Lexington March 31 11 Durham Durham April 13 12 Edgecombe Rocky Mount 8 ESE April 5 14 . Tarboro 1 S April 5 14 Gaston Gastonia April 6 15 Granville Oxford 2 SW April 5 11 Guilford High Point April 3 10 . Greensboro Pump Station April 6 9 . Greensboro WSO AP April 11 8 Haywood Waynesville 1 E May 7 11 . Waterville 2 April 10 16 . Canton 1 SW May 4 11 Henderson Hendersonville 1 NE April 26 13 Hyde New Holland March 30 13 Iredell Statesville 2 NNE April 23 14 Jackson Cullowhee May 3 13 Johnston Smithfield April 7 12 Jones Maysville 6 W April 22 11 Lee Sanford 8 NE April 19 12 Lenoir Kinston 5 E March 29 14 Macon Highlands 2 S April 25 14 . Franklin 1 SSW May 4 12 . Coweeta Exp Station May 7 14 Madison Hot Springs 2 April 21 12 . Marshall April 29 14 Martin Williamston 1 ENE March 29 11 McDowell Marion April 9 11 Mecklenburg Charlotte WSO AP April 2 12 Nash Nashville April 4 13 New Hanover Wilmington WSO AP March 17 10 . Wilmington 7 N April 6 13 Northampton Jackson April 11 11 Orange Chapel Hill 2 W April 15 12 Pasquotank Elizabeth City FAA AP March 31 11 Pender Willard 4 SW April 4 13 Pitt Greenville April 1 11 Polk Tryon April 5 15 Randolph Asheboro 2 W April 5 12 Richmond Hamlet April 9 11 Robeson Lumberton 6 NW April 4 14 Rockingham Reidsville 2 NW April 7 11 Rowan Salisbury April 9 11 . Rowan Research Station April 17 10 Sampson Clinton April 1 12 Scotland Laurinburg March 20 10 Stanly Albemarle 4 N April 8 9 Surry Mount Airy April 22 13 Transvylvania Pisgah Forest 1 N May 2 12 . Brevard May 3 11 Union Monroe 4 SE April 12 12 Vance Henderson 2 NNW April 21 13 Wake Raleigh NCSU March 30 10 . Raleigh 4 SW April 1 11 . Raleigh-Durham WSO AP April 11 14 Washington Plymouth 5 E April 13 12 Watauga Blowing Rock May 3 14 Wayne Goldsboro 1 SSW March 28 13 Wilson Wilson 3 SW April 2 10 Yancey Celo 2 S May 18 13 . . . .
Name
Date
Deviation
(days)
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
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