Frost Dates for 27127 — Winston Salem, North Carolina

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%.

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.

The nearest other station, Pfafftown, NC, 10 miles northwest of Winston Salem, has a last frost 14 days later (April 9), a first frost 9 days earlier (October 31), a season 24 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at High Pt, NC, 17 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 27127 is 7 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 27127 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.