Frost Dates for 28512 — Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Half of springs at Atlantic Beach Wtp, NC see their last 32°F night by March 3; only one in ten is past it by February 9, and one in ten still has one after March 21. Planting tender crops after March 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 15 20%, and after March 21 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 December 13 in half of years, as early as November 25 one year in ten, and holds off past January 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 18 days later, around December 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 10, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 286 days in a typical year, the longest of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 314 days one year in ten and falls short of 257 one year in ten. On average 27 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 15 days longer, to about March 18, and return around November 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 80% of winters and 16°F in 13%.

July is the warmest month at Atlantic Beach Wtp, NC, averaging 86°F by day and 76°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°F and 39°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 89% of years and March still brings one in 58% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,654 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 97% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 37% of them (2,073) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 961. Precipitation totals 59.0 inches a year, most in September (9.7") and least in March (3.4"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Morehead City 2 WNW, NC, 4 miles northeast of Atlantic Beach, has a last frost 15 days later (March 18), a first frost 22 days earlier (November 21), a season 37 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Morehead City 2 WNW, NC, 3.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 28512 is 3 miles from Atlantic Beach Wtp, NC, which stands at 4 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28512 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.