Frost Dates for 28747 — Lake Toxaway, North Carolina

Half of springs at Lake Toxaway 2 SW, NC see their last 32°F night by April 15; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after May 1. Planting tender crops after April 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 26 20%, and after May 1 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 35% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 26 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 19, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 193 days in a typical year, shorter than at 79% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 215 days one year in ten and falls short of 173 one year in ten. On average 100 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 April 29, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 26 and February 17.

July is the warmest month at Lake Toxaway 2 SW, NC, averaging 79°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 28°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 87% of years and May still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,099 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 92% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 38% of them (1,171) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 642. Precipitation totals 96.5 inches a year, most in July (9.4") and least in October (6.7"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Brevard, NC, 12 miles northeast of Lake Toxaway and 1,025 feet lower, has a last frost 6 days later (April 21), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 23), a season 8 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lake Toxaway usually arrives around January 3, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lake Toxaway 2 SW, NC, 3.8 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 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28747 is 4 miles from Lake Toxaway 2 SW, NC, which stands at 3,200 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28747 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.