Frost Dates for 28021 — Cherryville, North Carolina

Half of springs at Lincolnton 4 W, NC see their last 32°F night by April 9; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 27. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 21 20%, and after April 27 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 28 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 201 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 220 days one year in ten and falls short of 180 one year in ten. On average 76 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 13 days longer, to about April 22, and return around October 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between December 27 and February 9.

July is the warmest month at Lincolnton 4 W, NC, averaging 89°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°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 74% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,598 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 53% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 39% of them (1,799) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 870. Precipitation totals 49.6 inches a year, most in August (4.9") and least in February (3.5"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Vale Ag 2 SW, NC, 10 miles north of Cherryville, has a last frost 3 days later (April 12), the same first-frost date, a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cherryville usually arrives around January 6, and the last of the season around February 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lincolnton 4 W, NC, 6.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 79% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 54 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28021 is 6 miles from Lincolnton 4 W, NC, which stands at 887 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 28092 (Lincolnton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28021 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.