Frost Dates for 28557 — Morehead City, North Carolina

Half of springs at Morehead City 2 WNW, NC see their last 32°F night by March 18; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 5. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 5 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 November 21 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 14 days later, around December 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 23, 13 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 274 days one year in ten and falls short of 222 one year in ten. On average 36 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 April 1, and return around November 9. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 41%.

July is the warmest month at Morehead City 2 WNW, NC, averaging 86°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°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 82% of years and April still brings one in 19% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,369 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 37% of them (2,002) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 919. Precipitation totals 61.2 inches a year, most in September (8.8") and least in April (3.6"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Atlantic Beach Wtp, NC, 2 miles south of Morehead City, has a last frost 15 days earlier (March 3), a first frost 22 days later (December 13), a season 37 days longer.

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, 1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 28557 is 1 mile from Morehead City 2 WNW, NC, which stands at 10 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28557 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.