Frost Dates for 37687 — Roan Mountain, Tennessee

Half of springs at Roan Mountain 3SW, TN see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 16. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 16 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 53% of the 144 Tennessee stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 12 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 165 days in a typical year, the shortest of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 184 days one year in ten and falls short of 143 one year in ten. On average 125 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 10 days longer, to about May 10, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 12.

July is the warmest month at Roan Mountain 3SW, TN, averaging 80°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 22°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 2,679 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the fewest of the 144 Tennessee stations. 35% of them (949) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 598.

The nearest other station, Flat Springs 1E, NC, 11 miles east of Roan Mountain and 407 feet higher, has a last frost 12 days earlier (April 18), a first frost 12 days later (October 24), a season 23 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Roan Mountain usually arrives around November 23, and the last of the season around March 31. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Banner Elk, NC, 12.6 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 30 days after the last snow.

ZIP 37687 is 2 miles from Roan Mountain 3SW, TN, which stands at 2,923 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 37687 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.