Frost dates for Lincolnton 4 W, NC
At Lincolnton 4 W, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 9 and the median first fall frost is Oct 28, for a typical growing season of 201 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Apr 9Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 201 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 | Apr 8 | Apr 22 | May 10 |
| 32°F | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Apr 27 |
| 28°F | Mar 9 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 |
| 24°F | Feb 23 | Mar 15 | Mar 30 |
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 8 | Oct 19 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F | Oct 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F | Oct 25 | Nov 6 | Nov 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 4 | Nov 20 | Dec 8 |
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 | 159 days | 179 days | 199 days |
| 32°F | 180 days | 201 days | 220 days |
| 28°F | 203 days | 225 days | 248 days |
| 24°F | 226 days | 251 days | 279 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28033 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 5 km |
| 28092 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 7 km |
| 28021 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 9 km |
| 28077 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 13 km |
| 28080 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 20 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 USC00314996, at 35.4606, -81.3297, elevation 270 m (887 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 76.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Vale Ag 2 SW (13 km)
- Gastonia (27 km)
- Catawba 5 SW (27 km)
- Shelby 2 NW (27 km)
- Hickory FAA Airport (32 km)
- Gastonia Muni Airport (33 km)
- Charlotte Douglas Airport (43 km)
- Morganton (43 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.
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