Frost Dates for 27046 — Sandy Ridge, North Carolina

Half of springs at Danbury, NC see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 25, and one in ten still has one after April 29. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 29 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 30 in half of years, as early as October 18 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 12, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 202 days in a typical year, shorter than at 71% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 223 days one year in ten and falls short of 180 one year in ten. On average 101 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 11 days longer, to about April 22, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 93% of winters, usually between January 2 and February 5.

July is the warmest month at Danbury, NC, averaging 87°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 29°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 75% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,161 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 72% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 37% of them (1,554) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 849. Precipitation totals 47.6 inches a year, most in September (5.0") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Stuart, VA, 14 miles northwest of Sandy Ridge and 356 feet higher, has a last frost 8 days later (April 19), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 27), a season 12 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sandy Ridge usually arrives around January 14, and the last of the season around February 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Danbury, NC, 6.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 86% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 46 days after the last snow.

ZIP 27046 is 6 miles from Danbury, NC, which stands at 1,019 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 27025 (Madison). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 27046 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.