Frost dates for Sparta 3.5 SSW, NC
At Sparta 3.5 SSW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 22 and the median first fall frost is Oct 22, for a typical growing season of 180 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b.
- Apr 22Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 22First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 180 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 18 | May 5 | May 21 |
| 32°F | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | May 11 |
| 28°F | Mar 23 | Apr 6 | Apr 27 |
| 24°F | Mar 11 | Mar 28 | Apr 10 |
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 | Sep 27 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | Oct 8 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Oct 18 | Oct 31 | Nov 14 |
| 24°F | Oct 27 | Nov 9 | Nov 28 |
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 | 135 days | 156 days | 177 days |
| 32°F | 156 days | 180 days | 202 days |
| 28°F | 180 days | 205 days | 225 days |
| 24°F | 205 days | 227 days | 252 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28675 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 5 km |
| 28627 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 km |
| 28635 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 14 km |
| 28663 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 15 km |
| 28685 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 16 km |
| 28668 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 16 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 USC00318158, at 36.4592, -81.1528, elevation 918 m (3,011 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 5 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 108.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Transou (15 km)
- Jefferson 2 E (25 km)
- N Wilkesboro (33 km)
- Elkin (34 km)
- W Kerr Scott Resv (37 km)
- Mount Airy 2 W (45 km)
- Boone 1 SE (52 km)
- Taylorsville (60 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