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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 27258 — Haw River, North Carolina

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Haw Rvr 1E, NC (636 ft), 1 miles west.

Updated

In Haw River, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 4 in half of years and has passed by April 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 3, as early as October 24 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 215 days (NOAA, Haw Rvr 1E, NC).

Last spring frost
April 4

50% probability

First fall frost
November 3

50% probability

Growing season
215 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

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

First snow
January 23

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 17

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
55%

11 of 20 observed

Snow per year
1.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Haw River

Half of springs at Haw Rvr 1E, NC see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 15, and one in ten still has one after April 19. Planting tender crops after April 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 13 20%, and after April 19 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 57% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 3 in half of years, as early as October 24 one year in ten, and holds off past November 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 8, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 215 days in a typical year, shorter than at 54% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 237 days one year in ten and falls short of 195 one year in ten. On average 80 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 15, and return around October 27. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 83%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 1Apr 5Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 25May 1
32°FMar 15Mar 21Mar 27Mar 31Apr 4Apr 6Apr 10Apr 13Apr 19
28°FFeb 28Mar 6Mar 11Mar 15Mar 20Mar 25Mar 29Apr 2Apr 8
24°FFeb 8Feb 19Feb 24Feb 28Mar 2Mar 7Mar 12Mar 18Mar 26
20°F99% of yrsJan 18Jan 29Feb 4Feb 10Feb 17Feb 23Feb 28Mar 4Mar 11
16°F83% of yrsJan 3Jan 14Jan 21Jan 28Jan 31Feb 4Feb 11Feb 20Mar 1
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 15Oct 20Oct 22Oct 24Oct 27Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 6
32°FOct 24Oct 28Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 17
28°FNov 1Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 13Nov 17Nov 20Nov 25Dec 3
24°FNov 10Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 5Dec 12Dec 24
20°F99% of yrsNov 22Nov 30Dec 5Dec 12Dec 21Dec 27Jan 1Jan 6Jan 15
16°F83% of yrsDec 10Dec 22Dec 29Jan 2Jan 6Jan 10Jan 16Jan 22Feb 1

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Haw Rvr 1E, 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 27258 →Compare Haw River with another place →

Weather by month in Haw River

July is the warmest month at Haw Rvr 1E, NC, averaging 90°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°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 57% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,653 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 39% of them (1,808) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 914.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Haw Rvr 1E, NC
MonthHigh °FLow °F32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan5029100%2121
Feb5431100%1640
Mar623996%10129
Apr724657%2297
May80562%<1554
Jun87640%0768
Jul90690%0914
Aug88670%0843
Sep82610%0637
Oct724935%1328
Nov613798%1385
Dec533298%1637

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Haw Rvr 1E, NC (636 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, Burlington Fire Stn #5, NC, 6 miles west of Haw River, has a last frost 6 days earlier (March 29), a first frost 6 days later (November 9), a season 11 days longer.

Frost dates for 27215 (Burlington) →

When it snows in Haw River, North Carolina

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Haw River usually arrives around January 23, and the last of the season around February 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Graham 2 ENE, NC, 1.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 55% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 46 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 27258

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Haw River, North Carolina
WhenWhat to do
January 24 – February 7Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 7 – February 21Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 7 – March 21Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 4 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 11Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 20Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 3 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 27258 is 1 mile from Haw Rvr 1E, NC, which stands at 636 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 27217 (Burlington). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 27258 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