Frost Dates for 28723 — Cullowhee, North Carolina

Half of springs at Cullowhee, NC see their last 32°F night by April 19; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 22 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 184 days in a typical year, shorter than at 89% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 164 one year in ten. On average 101 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 14 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 12 and February 22.

July is the warmest month at Cullowhee, NC, averaging 85°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 89% of years and May still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,646 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 83% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 37% of them (1,353) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 744. Precipitation totals 54.1 inches a year, most in June (5.1") and least in October (3.2"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Highlands, NC, 14 miles south of Cullowhee and 1,658 feet higher, has a last frost 11 days later (April 30), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 15), a season 17 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cullowhee usually arrives around January 7, and the last of the season around January 30. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cullowhee, NC, 4.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 88% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 79 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28723 is 4 miles from Cullowhee, NC, which stands at 2,192 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 28779 (Sylva). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28723 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.