Frost Dates for 28409 — Wilmington, North Carolina

Half of springs at Wilmington 7 SE, NC see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 8. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 8 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 90% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 15 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 25, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 241 days in a typical year, longer than at 94% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 267 days one year in ten and falls short of 218 one year in ten. On average 41 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 2, and return around November 5. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 45%.

July is the warmest month at Wilmington 7 SE, NC, averaging 90°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 85% of years and April still brings one in 23% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,755 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 98% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 39% of them (2,265) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 987. Precipitation totals 65.2 inches a year, most in September (9.2") and least in February (3.6"); May to September bring 56% of it.

The nearest other station, Wilmington International Airport, NC, 7 miles north of Wilmington, has a last frost 1 day earlier (March 19), a first frost 5 days later (November 20), a season 6 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Wilmington 7 N, NC, 10.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 28409 is 2 miles from Wilmington 7 SE, NC, which stands at 30 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 28412 (Wilmington). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28409 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.