Frost Dates for 28571 — Oriental, North Carolina

Half of springs at Bayboro 3 SW, NC see their last 32°F night by March 30; only one in ten is past it by March 11, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 15 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 8 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 224 days in a typical year, longer than at 65% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 251 days one year in ten and falls short of 201 one year in ten. On average 43 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 April 11, and return around October 31. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 61%.

July is the warmest month at Bayboro 3 SW, NC, averaging 88°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 41% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,043 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 72% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 38% of them (1,921) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 910. Precipitation totals 58.8 inches a year, most in August (7.9") and least in February (3.5"); May to September bring 54% of it.

The nearest other station, Cherry Point Mcas, NC, 15 miles southwest of Oriental, has a last frost 11 days earlier (March 19), a first frost 14 days later (November 22), a season 25 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 22 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Bayboro 3 SW, NC, 9.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 28571 is 9 miles from Bayboro 3 SW, NC, which stands at 5 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 28515 (Bayboro). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28571 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.