Frost Dates for 28705 — Bakersville, North Carolina

Half of springs at Burnsville Ag, NC see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 90% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 19 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 180 days in a typical year, shorter than at 92% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 202 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 96 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 6, and return around October 10. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and February 25.

July is the warmest month at Burnsville Ag, NC, averaging 83°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,168 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 92% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 37% of them (1,165) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 688. Precipitation totals 45.9 inches a year, most in June (4.4") and least in October (2.6"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Roan Mountain 3SW, TN, 10 miles northeast of Bakersville, has a last frost 6 days later (April 30), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 12), a season 15 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bakersville usually arrives around December 30, and the last of the season around March 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Celo 2 S, NC, 14.3 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 47 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28705 is 10 miles from Burnsville Ag, NC, which stands at 2,825 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 28714 (Burnsville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28705 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.