Frost Dates for 28730 — Fairview, North Carolina

Half of springs at Swannanoa 2 SSE, NC see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 11. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 11 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 24 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 27, 14 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 205 days one year in ten and falls short of 162 one year in ten. On average 102 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 13 days longer, to about May 5, and return around October 14. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Swannanoa 2 SSE, NC, averaging 76°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 25°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 27% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,621 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 96% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 37% of them (957) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 570. Precipitation totals 53.0 inches a year, most in September (5.2") and least in February (3.7"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Black Mountain 2 W, NC, 6 miles north of Fairview and 2,030 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 19), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 23).

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Fairview usually arrives around November 15, and the last of the season around April 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Swannanoa 2 SSE, NC, 3.3 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 6 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28730 is 3 miles from Swannanoa 2 SSE, NC, which stands at 4,320 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 28778 (Swannanoa). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28730 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.