Frost Dates for 28618 — Deep Gap, North Carolina

Half of springs at Boone 1 SE, NC see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 19 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 October 13 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 8, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 163 days in a typical year, shorter than at 98% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 183 days one year in ten and falls short of 141 one year in ten. On average 127 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 May 14, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 9.

July is the warmest month at Boone 1 SE, NC, averaging 79°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,401 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 97% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 34% of them (822) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 569. Precipitation totals 59.1 inches a year, most in September (5.7") and least in February (3.6"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Blowing Rock 1NW, NC, 11 miles west of Deep Gap and 750 feet higher, has a last frost 7 days earlier (April 25), a first frost 8 days later (October 21), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Deep Gap usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Boone 1 SE, NC, 6.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28618 is 7 miles from Boone 1 SE, NC, which stands at 3,100 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 28607 (Boone). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28618 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.