Frost Dates for 28457 — Rocky Point, North Carolina

Half of springs at Wilmington 7 N, NC see their last 32°F night by March 29; only one in ten is past it by March 12, and one in ten still has one after April 11. Planting tender crops after April 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 11 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 92% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 8 in half of years, as early as October 27 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 1, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 226 days in a typical year, longer than at 68% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 249 days one year in ten and falls short of 206 one year in ten. On average 56 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 8, and return around October 30. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 71%.

July is the warmest month at Wilmington 7 N, NC, averaging 89°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 33°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 38% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,244 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 84% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 39% of them (2,045) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 933. Precipitation totals 63.5 inches a year, most in September (9.7") and least in April (3.3"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Wilmington International Airport, NC, 13 miles south of Rocky Point, has a last frost 10 days earlier (March 19), a first frost 12 days later (November 20), a season 21 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, 9.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 28457 is 9 miles from Wilmington 7 N, NC, which stands at 40 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28457 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.