At the time of this writing, we have temperatures in the 90’s and frost is the furthest thing from my mind. We do have many followers in agriculture however, that need to know how much longer they can continue with their crops before frost kills things off…ending the growing season.
Remember that Frost “Advisories” are issued when conditions suggest that areas of frost are possible with only a short period of time at or below freezing. A Frost “Warning” means that an extended period of time at or below freezing is likely. Once an area receives a warning and observations confirm freezing temperatures, no more advisories or warnings for frost will be issued.
The following table from NC State University, gives the average date counties in North Carolina can see their first frost.
(Note: If your location is not listed, use the next closest. It will still be valid).
Average first fall frost date for North Carolina by county (1951-1980)
County | Station Name | Average Date | Standard Deviation (+/- days) |
---|---|---|---|
Alamance | Burlington | November 1 | 11 |
Anson | Wadesboro | November 4 | 12 |
Ashe | Transou | October 1 | 10 |
Avery | Banner Elk | October 2 | 11 |
Brunswick | Southport 5 N | November 12 | 14 |
Buncombe | Asheville | October 23 | 11 |
Black Mountain | October 17 | 10 | |
Bent Creek | October 9 | 11 | |
Enka | October 20 | 10 | |
Burke | Morganton | October 18 | 9 |
Hickory | October 30 | 11 | |
Cabarrus | Concord | November 2 | 12 |
Caldwell | Lenoir | October 21 | 11 |
Carteret | Morehead City 2 WNW | November 19 | 13 |
Chatham | Siler City 2 NW | October 15 | 10 |
Cherokee | Andrews 2 E | October 10 | 10 |
Chowan | Edenton | November 11 | 12 |
Cleveland | Shelby 2 NNE | October 25 | 9 |
Columbus | Whiteville 7 NW | October 31 | 11 |
Craven | New Bern FAA AP | November 9 | 13 |
Cumberland | Fayetteville | October 31 | 9 |
Dare | Hatteras | December 11 | 15 |
Davidson | Lexington | October 31 | 12 |
Durham | Durham | October 24 | 10 |
Edgecombe | Rocky Mount 8 ESE | October 25 | 10 |
Tarboro 1 S | October 28 | 11 | |
Gaston | Gastonia | November 1 | 14 |
Granville | Oxford 2 SW | October 28 | 12 |
Guilford | High Point | October 30 | 12 |
Greensboro Pump Station | October 28 | 10 | |
Greensboro WSO AP | October 27 | 10 | |
Haywood | Canton 1 SW | October 10 | 9 |
Waynesville 1 E | October 8 | 10 | |
Waterville 2 | October 26 | 12 | |
Henderson | Hendersonville 1 NE | October 12 | 9 |
Hyde | New Holland | November 11 | 11 |
Iredell | Statesville 2 NNE | October 19 | 12 |
Jackson | Cullowhee | October 11 | 9 |
Johnston | Smithfield | October 25 | 10 |
Jones | Maysville 6 W | October 24 | 13 |
Lee | Sanford 8 NE | October 22 | 10 |
Lenoir | Kinston 5 E | October 29 | 13 |
Macon | Coweeta Exp Station | October 7 | 8 |
Highlands 2 S | October 22 | 12 | |
Franklin 1 SSW | October 12 | 8 | |
Madison | Marshall | October 15 | 10 |
Hot Springs 2 | October 21 | 10 | |
Martin | Williamston 1 ENE | November 3 | 12 |
McDowell | Marion | October 31 | 13 |
Mecklenburg | Charlotte WSO AP | November 5 | 13 |
Nash | Nashville | October 30 | 11 |
New Hanover | Wilmington WSO AP | November 14 | 13 |
Wilmington 7 N | November 3 | 12 | |
Northampton | Jackson | October 26 | 8 |
Orange | Chapel Hill 2 W | October 23 | 10 |
Pasquotank | Elizabeth City FAA AP | November 7 | 12 |
Pender | Willard 4 SW | November 1 | 12 |
Pitt | Greenville | October 30 | 10 |
Polk | Tryon | October 29 | 11 |
Randolph | Asheboro 2 W | October 31 | 12 |
Richmond | Hamlet | October 24 | 8 |
Robeson | Lumberton 6 NW | October 28 | 12 |
Rockingham | Reidsville 2 NW | October 27 | 11 |
Rowan | Salisbury | October 26 | 10 |
Rowan Research Station | October 20 | 8 | |
Sampson | Clinton | October 29 | 11 |
Scotland | Laurinburg | November 1 | 11 |
Stanly | Albemarle 4 N | October 25 | 12 |
Surry | Mount Airy | October 15 | 9 |
Transylvania | Pisgah Forest 1 N | October 10 | 7 |
Brevard | October 8 | 9 | |
Union | Monroe 4 SE | October 25 | 10 |
Vance | Henderson 2 NNW | October 23 | 9 |
Wake | Raleigh NCSU | November 5 | 13 |
Raleigh 4 SW | November 1 | 14 | |
Raleigh-Durham WSO AP | October 27 | 9 | |
Washington | Plymouth 5 E | October 25 | 11 |
Watauga | Blowing Rock | October 11 | 9 |
Wayne | Goldsboro 1 SSW | October 30 | 9 |
Wilson | Wilson 3 SW | October 29 | 10 |
Yancey | Celo 2 S | September 27 | 18 |
Source: Katharine Perry, Horticultural Science – NC State University
NC Weather Happens. Enjoy it!