Frost Dates for 27581 — Stem, North Carolina

Half of springs at Oxford Ag, NC see their last 32°F night by March 30; only one in ten is past it by March 16, and one in ten still has one after April 14. Planting tender crops after April 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 8 20%, and after April 14 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 6 in half of years, as early as October 25 one year in ten, and holds off past November 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 222 days in a typical year, longer than at 61% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 244 days one year in ten and falls short of 202 one year in ten. On average 69 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 12 days longer, to about April 11, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 80%.

July is the warmest month at Oxford Ag, NC, averaging 89°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 30°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 43% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,592 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 38% of them (1,760) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 907. Precipitation totals 46.5 inches a year, most in June (5.0") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Roxboro 7 ESE, NC, 14 miles northwest of Stem and 210 feet higher, has a last frost 16 days later (April 15), a first frost 11 days earlier (October 26), a season 28 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Butner Fltr Plt, NC, 4.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 27581 is 10 miles from Oxford Ag, NC, which stands at 500 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 27565 (Oxford). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 27581 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.