Freeze Date Explorer
Each year, our last spring freeze and first fall freeze events define the beginning and end of the growing season. Knowing when these typically occur, and when they have occurred in past years, can help inform plans for planting and harvesting.
This tool offers a way to view both the long-term average first and last freeze dates, along with the observed annual occurrence of freeze dates in past years since 1950. Use the menus below to select your options and view maps of freeze dates at weather stations across North Carolina.
This tool offers a way to view both the long-term average first and last freeze dates, along with the observed annual occurrence of freeze dates in past years since 1950. Use the menus below to select your options and view maps of freeze dates at weather stations across North Carolina.
Note that this tool defines a freeze as temperatures at or below 32°F as measured at a standard height of 2 meters above the ground. At the ground level, a light freeze can occur even when observed temperatures are slightly above freezing. Hardy plants may also tolerate temperatures a few degrees below freezing, especially for short durations, without sustaining significant damage (a "killing freeze").
For more freeze date information using various temperature thresholds, view our high-resolution gridded maps of the mean, median, earliest, and latest first and last dates using PRISM Climate Data over the latest normals period (1991-2020).
For more data from the weather stations used in this tool, view our Cardinal data request and retrieval system.
For more freeze date information using various temperature thresholds, view our high-resolution gridded maps of the mean, median, earliest, and latest first and last dates using PRISM Climate Data over the latest normals period (1991-2020).
For more data from the weather stations used in this tool, view our Cardinal data request and retrieval system.