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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 27009 — Belews Creek, North Carolina

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC (970 ft), 11 miles southwest.

Updated

In Belews Creek, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 26 in half of years and has passed by April 11 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 9, as early as October 28 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 228 days (NOAA, Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC).

Last spring frost
March 26

50% probability

First fall frost
November 9

50% probability

Growing season
228 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
January 9

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 21

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
93%

28 of 30 observed

Snow per year
7.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Belews Creek

Half of springs at Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC see their last 32°F night by March 26; only one in ten is past it by March 6, and one in ten still has one after April 11. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 5 20%, and after April 11 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 35% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 9 in half of years, as early as October 28 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 30, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 228 days in a typical year, longer than at 76% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 253 days one year in ten and falls short of 205 one year in ten. On average 64 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 14 days longer, to about April 9, and return around October 30. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 72%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 23Mar 29Apr 2Apr 5Apr 9Apr 12Apr 16Apr 20Apr 27
32°FMar 6Mar 14Mar 18Mar 23Mar 26Mar 30Apr 2Apr 5Apr 11
28°FFeb 21Feb 28Mar 3Mar 8Mar 13Mar 16Mar 20Mar 25Mar 30
24°FJan 31Feb 9Feb 17Feb 23Feb 27Mar 3Mar 7Mar 12Mar 19
20°F95% of yrsJan 11Jan 20Jan 29Feb 3Feb 8Feb 15Feb 24Mar 1Mar 9
16°F72% of yrsJan 2Jan 10Jan 17Jan 22Jan 27Jan 31Feb 4Feb 14Feb 25
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 17Oct 22Oct 25Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 7Nov 12
32°FOct 28Oct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19Nov 26
28°FNov 5Nov 10Nov 14Nov 18Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 6Dec 14
24°FNov 19Nov 26Dec 2Dec 6Dec 11Dec 17Dec 23Dec 29Jan 5
20°F95% of yrsDec 5Dec 12Dec 21Dec 27Jan 1Jan 5Jan 11Jan 17Jan 27
16°F72% of yrsDec 19Dec 29Jan 2Jan 7Jan 12Jan 17Jan 22Jan 28Feb 8

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 27009 →Compare Belews Creek with another place →

Weather by month in Belews Creek

July is the warmest month at Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC, averaging 88°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 31°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,578 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 39% of them (1,784) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 887. Precipitation totals 43.3 inches a year, most in August (4.5") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan49313.4100%1923
Feb53332.9100%1436
Mar61403.692%7126
Apr71483.733%1303
May78573.80%0541
Jun85653.60%0754
Jul88694.20%0887
Aug86684.50%0837
Sep80613.90%0619
Oct71493.321%1321
Nov60393.193%796
Dec52343.399%1635

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC (970 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Piedmont Triad International Airport, NC, 12 miles southeast of Belews Creek, has a last frost 4 days later (March 30), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 5), a season 8 days shorter.

Frost dates for 27410 (Greensboro) →

When it snows in Belews Creek, North Carolina

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Belews Creek usually arrives around January 9, and the last of the season around February 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Piedmont Triad International Airport, NC, 12.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 33 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 27009

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Belews Creek, North Carolina
WhenWhat to do
January 15 – January 29Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 29 – February 12Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 26 – March 12Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 26 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 17Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 26Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 9 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 27009 is 11 miles from Winston Salem Rynlds Airport, NC, which stands at 970 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 27284 (Kernersville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 27009 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across North Carolina →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8a places in North Carolina