Frost Dates for 28694 — West Jefferson, North Carolina

Half of springs at Jefferson 2 E, NC see their last 32°F night by May 7; only one in ten is past it by April 22, and one in ten still has one after May 24. Planting tender crops after May 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 19 20%, and after May 24 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 8 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 13, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 154 days in a typical year, the shortest of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 175 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 one year in ten. On average 136 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 19, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 12.

July is the warmest month at Jefferson 2 E, NC, averaging 81°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°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 70% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,608 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 97% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 34% of them (881) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 604. Precipitation totals 51.0 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in February (3.3"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Boone 1 SE, NC, 15 miles southwest of West Jefferson and 341 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (May 2), a first frost 5 days later (October 13), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in West Jefferson usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around February 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Jefferson 2 E, NC, 3.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 81% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 70 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28694 is 4 miles from Jefferson 2 E, NC, which stands at 2,759 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28694 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.