USDA Hardiness Zone 8a
Frost Dates for 28454 — Maple Hill, North Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from New River Mcaf, NC (26 ft), 15 miles east.
Updated
In Maple Hill, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 23 in half of years and has passed by April 7 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 16, as early as November 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 240 days (NOAA, New River Mcaf, NC).
- Last spring frost
- March 23
- First fall frost
- November 16
- Growing season
- 240 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 35%
- Snow per year
- 0.8"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
7 of 20 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Maple Hill
Half of springs at New River Mcaf, NC see their last 32°F night by March 23; only one in ten is past it by March 2, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 3 20%, and after April 7 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 16 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 29, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 240 days in a typical year, longer than at 94% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 268 days one year in ten and falls short of 216 one year in ten. On average 43 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 10 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 41%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 16 | Mar 22 | Mar 26 | Mar 31 | Apr 2 | Apr 5 | Apr 8 | Apr 12 | Apr 17 |
| 32°F | Mar 2 | Mar 10 | Mar 15 | Mar 18 | Mar 23 | Mar 26 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 7 |
| 28°F | Feb 12 | Feb 21 | Feb 27 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 23 | Mar 29 |
| 24°F99% of yrs | Jan 20 | Jan 28 | Feb 3 | Feb 10 | Feb 16 | Feb 23 | Feb 28 | Mar 6 | Mar 16 |
| 20°F81% of yrs | Dec 31 | Jan 10 | Jan 17 | Jan 23 | Jan 28 | Jan 31 | Feb 6 | Feb 15 | Feb 28 |
| 16°F41% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 22 | Oct 27 | Oct 31 | Nov 1 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 16 | Nov 21 |
| 32°F | Nov 1 | Nov 5 | Nov 9 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 20 | Nov 25 | Dec 1 | Dec 7 |
| 28°F | Nov 11 | Nov 17 | Nov 22 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 21 | Dec 31 |
| 24°F99% of yrs | Nov 23 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 14 | Dec 22 | Dec 28 | Jan 2 | Jan 9 | Jan 20 |
| 20°F81% of yrs | Dec 6 | Dec 17 | Dec 27 | Dec 31 | Jan 3 | Jan 9 | Jan 16 | Jan 21 | Feb 1 |
| 16°F41% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at New River Mcaf, 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 28454 →Compare Maple Hill with another place →
Weather by month in Maple Hill
July is the warmest month at New River Mcaf, NC, averaging 89°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 35°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 88% of years and April still brings one in 25% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,591 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 95% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 39% of them (2,205) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 958. Precipitation totals 56.7 inches a year, most in August (7.5") and least in April (3.4"); May to September bring 54% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 35 | 4.0 | 100% | 14 | 70 |
| Feb | 59 | 38 | 3.5 | 98% | 10 | 86 |
| Mar | 66 | 43 | 3.8 | 88% | 5 | 197 |
| Apr | 74 | 52 | 3.4 | 25% | 1 | 393 |
| May | 80 | 61 | 4.2 | 0% | 0 | 634 |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.2 | 0% | 0 | 825 |
| Jul | 89 | 73 | 6.2 | 0% | 0 | 958 |
| Aug | 88 | 71 | 7.5 | 0% | 0 | 918 |
| Sep | 83 | 67 | 7.5 | 0% | 0 | 747 |
| Oct | 75 | 55 | 4.1 | 9% | <1 | 465 |
| Nov | 66 | 44 | 3.6 | 78% | 4 | 199 |
| Dec | 59 | 38 | 3.7 | 98% | 9 | 100 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New River Mcaf, NC (26 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, Surf City, NC, 16 miles south of Maple Hill, has a last frost 3 days later (March 26), a first frost 3 days earlier (November 13), a season 7 days shorter.
When it snows in Maple Hill, North Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Willard 4 SW, NC, 22.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 28454
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 12 – January 26 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 26 – February 9 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 23 – March 9 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 23 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 24 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 2 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 16 onward | Plant 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 28454 is 15 miles from New River Mcaf, NC, which stands at 26 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 28547 (Camp Lejeune). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28454 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.