Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 28714 — Burnsville, North Carolina

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Burnsville Ag, NC (2,825 ft), 3 miles northeast.

Updated

In Burnsville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 24 in half of years and has passed by May 13 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 19, as early as October 7 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 180 days (NOAA, Burnsville Ag, NC).

Last spring frost
April 24

50% probability

First fall frost
October 19

50% probability

Growing season
180 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 30

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 8

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

21 of 21 observed

Snow per year
12.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Burnsville

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.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 18Apr 25Apr 30May 3May 6May 9May 12May 16May 22
32°FApr 5Apr 11Apr 15Apr 20Apr 24Apr 28May 2May 7May 13
28°FMar 21Mar 27Mar 31Apr 4Apr 6Apr 10Apr 15Apr 21May 1
24°FMar 7Mar 13Mar 17Mar 20Mar 25Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4Apr 8
20°FFeb 19Feb 27Mar 3Mar 7Mar 12Mar 15Mar 19Mar 24Mar 30
16°FJan 28Feb 4Feb 11Feb 19Feb 25Mar 1Mar 7Mar 13Mar 20
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 29Oct 3Oct 6Oct 8Oct 10Oct 13Oct 16Oct 20Oct 26
32°FOct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 22Oct 26Oct 30Nov 3
28°FOct 13Oct 17Oct 21Oct 25Oct 28Nov 1Nov 3Nov 7Nov 13
24°FOct 21Oct 27Oct 31Nov 3Nov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 20Nov 27
20°FNov 1Nov 7Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 27Dec 1Dec 6Dec 15
16°FNov 15Nov 24Dec 1Dec 5Dec 8Dec 13Dec 20Dec 27Jan 5

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Burnsville Ag, NC, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 28714 →Compare Burnsville with another place →

Weather by month in Burnsville

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Burnsville Ag, NC
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan45273.8100%228
Feb49293.5100%1816
Mar56343.8100%1357
Apr66424.293%4167
May73493.935%<1347
Jun80584.40%0570
Jul83614.40%0688
Aug81604.30%0632
Sep76544.21%0448
Oct67422.682%3182
Nov57343.0100%1743
Dec48293.8100%1912

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Burnsville Ag, NC (2,825 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, N Fk 2, NC, 16 miles south of Burnsville and 345 feet lower, has a last frost 19 days earlier (April 5), a first frost 12 days later (October 31), a season 26 days longer.

Frost dates for 28709 (Barnardsville) →

When it snows in Burnsville, North Carolina

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Burnsville 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, 7.9 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 47 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 28714

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Burnsville, North Carolina
WhenWhat to do
February 13 – February 27Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 27 – March 13Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 27 – April 10Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 24 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 27Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 5Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 19 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 28714 is 3 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. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28714 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.

Frost dates across North Carolina →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in North Carolina