Frost Dates for 28532 — Havelock, North Carolina

Half of springs at Cherry Point Mcas, NC see their last 32°F night by March 19; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 4. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 30 20%, and after April 4 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 November 22 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around December 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 25, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 249 days in a typical year, longer than at 97% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 276 days one year in ten and falls short of 225 one year in ten. On average 38 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 12 days longer, to about March 31, and return around November 10. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 35%.

July is the warmest month at Cherry Point Mcas, NC, averaging 90°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°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 83% of years and April still brings one in 16% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,756 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 99% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 39% of them (2,246) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 969. Precipitation totals 57.5 inches a year, most in September (8.2") and least in February (3.4"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Newport/Morehead City WFO, NC, 7 miles south of Havelock, has a last frost 7 days later (March 26), a first frost 6 days earlier (November 16), a season 13 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, 13.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 28532 is 1 mile from Cherry Point Mcas, NC, which stands at 29 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 28532 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.