Frost dates for Shelby 2 NW, NC
At Shelby 2 NW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 12 and the median first fall frost is Oct 25, for a typical growing season of 195 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 28. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Apr 12Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 28Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 25First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 195 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 10 | Apr 25 | May 11 |
| 32°F | Mar 27 | Apr 12 | Apr 28 |
| 28°F | Mar 13 | Mar 31 | Apr 16 |
| 24°F | Feb 28 | Mar 17 | Apr 2 |
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 6 | Oct 16 | Oct 28 |
| 32°F | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Oct 21 | Nov 2 | Nov 18 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | Dec 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 | 154 days | 174 days | 192 days |
| 32°F | 173 days | 195 days | 215 days |
| 28°F | 196 days | 217 days | 240 days |
| 24°F | 218 days | 242 days | 271 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28150 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 4 km |
| 28152 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 8 km |
| 28089 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 8 km |
| 28017 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 12 km |
| 28169 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 14 km |
| 28136 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 14 km |
| 28073 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 15 km |
| 28114 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 18 km |
| 28040 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 19 km |
| 28086 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 19 km |
| 28024 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 20 km |
| 28076 | 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 USC00317845, at 35.3111, -81.5708, elevation 250 m (820 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 88.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Vale Ag 2 SW (26 km)
- Lincolnton 4 W (27 km)
- Forest City 8 W (38 km)
- Gastonia (39 km)
- Gastonia Muni Airport (40 km)
- Morganton (47 km)
- Hickory FAA Airport (51 km)
- Catawba 5 SW (55 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