Frost dates for Newport/morehead City WFO, NC
At Newport/morehead City WFO, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 26 and the median first fall frost is Nov 16, for a typical growing season of 236 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Mar 26Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 16First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 236 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 21 | Apr 4 | Apr 21 |
| 32°F | Mar 5 | Mar 26 | Apr 9 |
| 28°F | Feb 16 | Mar 12 | Mar 31 |
| 24°F | Jan 25 | Feb 23 | Mar 18 |
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 24 | Nov 5 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | Dec 2 |
| 28°F | Nov 10 | Nov 29 | Dec 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 22 | Dec 14 | Jan 12 |
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 | 193 days | 213 days | 235 days |
| 32°F | 212 days | 236 days | 260 days |
| 28°F | 237 days | 261 days | 295 days |
| 24°F | 259 days | 294 days | 332 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28570 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 0 km |
| 28594 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 12 km |
| 28584 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 21 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 USC00316096, at 34.7764, -76.8769, elevation 9 m (30 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 11 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
- Morehead City 2 WNW (14 km)
- Cherry Point MCAS (14 km)
- Atlantic Beach Water Plant (15 km)
- Beaufort Michael J Smith Field (20 km)
- New Bern Craven Co Airport (36 km)
- Perrytown (36 km)
- Hofmann Forest (39 km)
- Reelsboro (40 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