Frost dates for Wilmington 7 N, NC
At Wilmington 7 N, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 29 and the median first fall frost is Nov 8, for a typical growing season of 226 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b.
- Mar 29Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 226 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 | Mar 25 | Apr 8 | Apr 22 |
| 32°F | Mar 12 | Mar 29 | Apr 11 |
| 28°F | Feb 26 | Mar 16 | Apr 1 |
| 24°F | Feb 2 | Mar 2 | Mar 22 |
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 17 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F | Oct 27 | Nov 8 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F | Nov 4 | Nov 20 | Dec 8 |
| 24°F | Nov 14 | Dec 3 | Jan 3 |
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 | 187 days | 206 days | 224 days |
| 32°F | 206 days | 226 days | 249 days |
| 28°F | 227 days | 249 days | 279 days |
| 24°F | 248 days | 278 days | 314 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28429 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 3 km |
| 28401 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 6 km |
| 28457 | 8a | 10 to 15°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 USC00319467, at 34.3208, -77.9206, elevation 12 m (40 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 56.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Wilmington Intl Airport (6 km)
- Wilmington 7 SE (20 km)
- Moores Creek Nb (23 km)
- Surf City (35 km)
- Southport 5 N (37 km)
- Willard 4 SW (39 km)
- Wallace 1se (46 km)
- Shallotte Ag (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