Frost Dates for 28516 — Beaufort, North Carolina

Half of springs at Beaufort Michael J Smith Field, NC see their last 32°F night by March 10; only one in ten is past it by February 18, and one in ten still has one after March 26. Planting tender crops after March 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 20 20%, and after March 26 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 35% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by December 1 in half of years, as early as November 10 one year in ten, and holds off past December 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 16, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 265 days in a typical year, longer than at 98% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 295 days one year in ten and falls short of 240 one year in ten. On average 28 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 11 days longer, to about March 21, and return around November 15. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 90% of winters and 16°F in 19%.

July is the warmest month at Beaufort Michael J Smith Field, NC, averaging 87°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°F and 38°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from January to February (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 73% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,580 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 94% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 38% of them (2,124) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 947. Precipitation totals 55.7 inches a year, most in September (8.5") and least in February (3.3"); May to September bring 53% of it.

The nearest other station, Morehead City 2 WNW, NC, 6 miles southwest of Beaufort, has a last frost 8 days later (March 18), a first frost 10 days earlier (November 21), a season 16 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, 5.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 28516 is 3 miles from Beaufort Michael J Smith Field, NC, which stands at 11 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28516 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.