Frost dates for Catawba 5 SW, NC
At Catawba 5 SW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 24 and the median first fall frost is Nov 8, for a typical growing season of 230 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 24Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 230 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 19 | Apr 4 | Apr 29 |
| 32°F | Mar 5 | Mar 24 | Apr 9 |
| 28°F | Feb 20 | Mar 13 | Mar 30 |
| 24°F | Feb 1 | Feb 28 | Mar 20 |
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 17 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F | Oct 27 | Nov 8 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F | Nov 4 | Nov 20 | Dec 10 |
| 24°F | Nov 14 | Dec 5 | Jan 2 |
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 | 182 days | 206 days | 227 days |
| 32°F | 207 days | 230 days | 255 days |
| 28°F | 228 days | 255 days | 285 days |
| 24°F | 252 days | 284 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28609 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 8 km |
| 28650 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 9 km |
| 28610 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 9 km |
| 28658 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 9 km |
| 28613 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 12 km |
| 28673 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 13 km |
| 28682 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 17 km |
| 28037 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 20 km |
| 28117 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 23 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 USC00311578, at 35.6486, -81.1342, elevation 309 m (1,015 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 8 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 53.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hickory FAA Airport (25 km)
- Lincolnton 4 W (27 km)
- Statesville 2 NNE (29 km)
- Taylorsville (31 km)
- Vale Ag 2 SW (31 km)
- Gastonia (42 km)
- Salisbury 9 WNW (47 km)
- Lenoir (47 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