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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 28787 — Weaverville, North Carolina

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Marshall, NC (1,920 ft), 9 miles northwest.

Updated

In Weaverville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 28 in half of years and has passed by May 13 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 18, as early as October 6 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 173 days (NOAA, Marshall, NC).

Last spring frost
April 28

50% probability

First fall frost
October 18

50% probability

Growing season
173 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
December 9

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 19

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

24 of 24 observed

Snow per year
25.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Weaverville

Half of springs at Marshall, NC see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 13 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 18 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 173 days in a typical year, shorter than at 96% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 193 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 122 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 9 days longer, to about May 7, and return around October 9. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 2.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 24Apr 30May 2May 5May 7May 10May 13May 16May 23
32°FApr 12Apr 17Apr 22Apr 25Apr 28Apr 30May 4May 9May 13
28°FMar 29Apr 3Apr 7Apr 11Apr 14Apr 17Apr 22Apr 26May 2
24°FMar 13Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 11Apr 15
20°FFeb 25Mar 4Mar 10Mar 15Mar 19Mar 23Mar 27Apr 1Apr 5
16°FFeb 6Feb 12Feb 19Feb 26Mar 2Mar 7Mar 12Mar 18Mar 28
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 27Oct 1Oct 5Oct 7Oct 9Oct 12Oct 14Oct 18Oct 22
32°FOct 6Oct 10Oct 13Oct 15Oct 18Oct 20Oct 23Oct 27Nov 1
28°FOct 13Oct 17Oct 21Oct 24Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7
24°FOct 22Oct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 13Nov 19
20°FNov 1Nov 5Nov 9Nov 13Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 28Dec 4
16°FNov 12Nov 18Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 4Dec 9Dec 18Dec 28

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Marshall, NC, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 28787 →Compare Weaverville with another place →

Weather by month in Weaverville

July is the warmest month at Marshall, NC, averaging 85°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 24°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 39% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,358 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 91% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 36% of them (1,196) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 716. Precipitation totals 41.7 inches a year, most in July (4.4") and least in October (2.3"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Marshall, NC
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan47243.3100%247
Feb51262.8100%2211
Mar59313.8100%1854
Apr69383.798%9167
May76483.839%1376
Jun82574.20%0582
Jul85614.40%0716
Aug84603.80%0688
Sep79543.43%<1494
Oct70412.389%7208
Nov59302.8100%2043
Dec49263.4100%2313

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Marshall, NC (1,920 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Asheville, NC, 9 miles south of Weaverville and 318 feet higher, has a last frost 22 days earlier (April 6), a first frost 13 days later (October 31), a season 32 days longer.

Frost dates for 28806 (Asheville) →

When it snows in Weaverville, North Carolina

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Weaverville usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Marshall, NC, 8.8 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 40 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 28787

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Weaverville, North Carolina
WhenWhat to do
February 17 – March 3Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 3 – March 17Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 31 – April 14Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 28 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 26Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 4Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 18 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 28787 is 9 miles from Marshall, NC, which stands at 1,920 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28787 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.

Frost dates across North Carolina →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7b places in North Carolina