Frost dates for Sanford 8 NE, NC
At Sanford 8 NE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 10 and the median first fall frost is Oct 30, for a typical growing season of 203 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 25. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8a.
- Apr 10Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 25Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 30First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 203 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 7 | Apr 22 | May 9 |
| 32°F | Mar 26 | Apr 10 | Apr 25 |
| 28°F | Mar 9 | Mar 28 | Apr 11 |
| 24°F | Feb 20 | Mar 13 | Mar 31 |
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 21 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F | Oct 15 | Oct 30 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 25 |
| 24°F | Nov 4 | Nov 22 | Dec 9 |
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 | 160 days | 181 days | 199 days |
| 32°F | 182 days | 203 days | 223 days |
| 28°F | 204 days | 225 days | 249 days |
| 24°F | 228 days | 252 days | 283 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27559 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 11 km |
| 27330 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 12 km |
| 27505 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 15 km |
| 28368 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 19 km |
| 27332 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 20 km |
| 27256 | 7b | 5 to 10°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 USC00317656, at 35.5356, -79.0475, elevation 80 m (262 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 79.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- New Hill (20 km)
- Chatham Water Plant (22 km)
- Lillington (25 km)
- Apex (30 km)
- Cary (31 km)
- Garner (38 km)
- Raleigh 4 SW (39 km)
- Carthage Water Plant (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