Frost Dates for 28751 — Maggie Valley, North Carolina

Half of springs at Waynesville 1 E, NC see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 13, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 57% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 14 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past October 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 167 days in a typical year, shorter than at 97% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 187 days one year in ten and falls short of 148 one year in ten. On average 120 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 11 days longer, to about May 11, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 28 and March 8.

July is the warmest month at Waynesville 1 E, NC, averaging 82°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,990 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 36% of them (1,074) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 646. Precipitation totals 50.3 inches a year, most in December (4.7") and least in October (3.0"); May to September bring 42% of it.

The nearest other station, Cherokee, NC, 13 miles west of Maggie Valley and 693 feet lower, has a last frost 13 days earlier (April 17), a first frost 7 days later (October 21), a season 19 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Maggie Valley usually arrives around December 14, and the last of the season around March 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Waynesville 1 E, NC, 6.9 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 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28751 is 7 miles from Waynesville 1 E, NC, which stands at 2,658 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 28786 (Waynesville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28751 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.