Frost dates for Swanquarter Ferry, NC
At Swanquarter Ferry, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 18 and the median first fall frost is Nov 25, for a typical growing season of 253 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 31. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Mar 18Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 31Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 25First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 253 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
USDA hardiness zone 8b (15 to 20°F) · see all zone 8b frost dates
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 13 | Mar 29 | Apr 10 |
| 32°F | Feb 27 | Mar 18 | Mar 31 |
| 28°F | Feb 8 | Mar 5 | Mar 21 |
| 24°F | Jan 15 | Feb 17 | Mar 12 |
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 31 | Nov 12 | Nov 28 |
| 32°F | Nov 8 | Nov 25 | Dec 13 |
| 28°F | Nov 19 | Dec 8 | Jan 5 |
| 24°F | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Jan 23 |
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 | 210 days | 227 days | 251 days |
| 32°F | 229 days | 253 days | 278 days |
| 28°F | 252 days | 280 days | 310 days |
| 24°F | 281 days | 311 days | 345 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 97% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27885 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 8 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 USC00318450, at 35.3950, -76.3261, elevation 1 m (3 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 8 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 34.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Fairfield (16 km)
- Belhaven 3 NE (31 km)
- Columbia Ag Gum Neck (39 km)
- Aurora 6 N (41 km)
- Ocracoke (44 km)
- Cedar Island (46 km)
- Bayboro 3 SW (53 km)
- Plymouth 5 E (61 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