Frost dates for Cary, NC
At Cary, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 31 and the median first fall frost is Nov 10, for a typical growing season of 226 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 12. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 31Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 12Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 10First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 226 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 26 | Apr 10 | Apr 23 |
| 32°F | Mar 12 | Mar 31 | Apr 12 |
| 28°F | Feb 27 | Mar 17 | Apr 2 |
| 24°F | Feb 3 | Mar 1 | Mar 21 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 18 | Oct 31 | Nov 13 |
| 32°F | Oct 30 | Nov 10 | Nov 27 |
| 28°F | Nov 7 | Nov 24 | Dec 17 |
| 24°F | Nov 19 | Dec 10 | Jan 10 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 185 days | 203 days | 225 days |
| 32°F | 208 days | 226 days | 251 days |
| 28°F | 228 days | 254 days | 283 days |
| 24°F | 255 days | 287 days | 318 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27518 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 2 km |
| 27511 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 5 km |
| 27539 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 5 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00311535, at 35.7200, -78.7878, elevation 119 m (390 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 20 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 70.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Apex (5 km)
- Raleigh 4 SW (9 km)
- Raleigh State Univ (11 km)
- New Hill (12 km)
- Garner (13 km)
- Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (19 km)
- Chatham Water Plant (20 km)
- Clayton Water Plant (31 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.
All North Carolina stations · How frost dates are calculated