Frost Dates for 27944 — Hertford, North Carolina

Half of springs at Edenton, NC see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by March 5, and one in ten still has one after April 8. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 3 20%, and after April 8 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 14 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 238 days in a typical year, longer than at 91% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 262 days one year in ten and falls short of 216 one year in ten. On average 47 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 5, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 54%.

July is the warmest month at Edenton, NC, averaging 89°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 28% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,184 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 81% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 39% of them (2,004) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 945. Precipitation totals 50.9 inches a year, most in August (6.2") and least in February (3.2"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Elizabeth City Cgas, NC, 16 miles northeast of Hertford, has a last frost 4 days later (March 28), a first frost 2 days earlier (November 12), a season 8 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Elizabeth City, NC, 16.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 27944 is 12 miles from Edenton, NC, which stands at 10 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 27932 (Edenton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 27944 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.