Frost Dates for 28551 — La Grange, North Carolina

Half of springs at Goldsboro 4 SE, NC see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 23, and one in ten still has one after April 1. Planting tender crops after March 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 1 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 65% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 18 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 20, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 250 days in a typical year, longer than at 98% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 278 days one year in ten and falls short of 227 one year in ten. On average 42 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 14 days longer, to about March 29, and return around November 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 41%.

July is the warmest month at Goldsboro 4 SE, NC, averaging 91°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°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 78% of years and April still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,559 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 94% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 40% of them (2,199) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 972. Precipitation totals 52.2 inches a year, most in September (7.0") and least in February (3.2"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Snow Hill Waste Water Treament, NC, 11 miles northeast of La Grange, has a last frost 11 days later (March 26), a first frost 6 days earlier (November 12), a season 18 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 23 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Kinston Ag Rsch, NC, 11.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 28551 is 11 miles from Goldsboro 4 SE, NC, which stands at 109 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 27534 (Goldsboro). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28551 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.