Frost Dates for 28804 — Asheville, North Carolina

Half of springs at Asheville, NC see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by March 20, and one in ten still has one after April 24. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 24 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 173 North Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 31 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 205 days in a typical year, shorter than at 66% of the 173 North Carolina stations; it reaches 226 days one year in ten and falls short of 185 one year in ten. On average 77 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 20, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 28 and February 8.

July is the warmest month at Asheville, NC, averaging 86°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 29°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 66% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,977 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 79% of the 173 North Carolina stations. 38% of them (1,519) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 784. Precipitation totals 40.7 inches a year, most in July (4.1") and least in October (2.6"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Candler 1 W, NC, 10 miles southwest of Asheville, has a last frost 13 days later (April 19), a first frost 9 days earlier (October 22), a season 20 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Asheville usually arrives around December 1, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Asheville, NC, 2.8 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 19 days after the last snow.

ZIP 28804 is 3 miles from Asheville, NC, which stands at 2,238 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 28806 (Asheville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 28804 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.