Frost dates for Spruce Pine 2 NE, NC
At Spruce Pine 2 NE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 26 and the median first fall frost is Oct 20, for a typical growing season of 177 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 13. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 26Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 13Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 20First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 177 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 22 | May 7 | May 23 |
| 32°F | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | May 13 |
| 28°F | Mar 28 | Apr 11 | Apr 30 |
| 24°F | Mar 9 | Mar 28 | Apr 13 |
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 9 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | Oct 6 | Oct 20 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | Oct 15 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 |
| 24°F | Oct 25 | Nov 7 | Nov 24 |
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 | 136 days | 155 days | 176 days |
| 32°F | 156 days | 177 days | 197 days |
| 28°F | 178 days | 199 days | 219 days |
| 24°F | 203 days | 225 days | 250 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28777 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 6 km |
| 28641 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 28657 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 28616 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 km |
| 28664 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 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 USC00318221, at 35.9325, -82.0019, elevation 869 m (2,850 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 11 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 125.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Celo 2 S (20 km)
- Grandfather Mountain (24 km)
- Burnsville Ag (24 km)
- Marion (28 km)
- Banner Elk (28 km)
- Beech Mountain (31 km)
- Mount Mitchell (31 km)
- Old Fort Ag 3 W (31 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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