Frost Dates for 28759 — Mills River, North Carolina

Half of springs at Asheville 13 S, NC see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after May 4. Planting tender crops after April 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 4 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 65% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 10 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 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 20, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 187 days in a typical year, shorter than at 85% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 167 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 13 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 14. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 19 and February 13.

July is the warmest month at Asheville 13 S, NC, averaging 83°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 27°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 86% of years and May still brings one in 16% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,415 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 89% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 37% of them (1,254) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 713. Precipitation totals 51.6 inches a year, most in July (5.3") and least in October (3.5"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Asheville Regional Airport, NC, 3 miles northeast of Mills River, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 9), a first frost 5 days later (October 28), a season 14 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Mills River usually arrives around December 26, and the last of the season around March 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Asheville Regional Airport, NC, 3.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 97% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28759 is 2 miles from Asheville 13 S, NC, which stands at 2,103 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 28759 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.