U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00319147 · North Carolina

Frost Dates for Waynesville, NC

NOAA weather station Waynesville 1 E (USC00319147), North Carolina · elevation 2658 ft (810 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 15only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 3050% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1450% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season167 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Waynesville, NCSpring: a frost after April 13 in 9 years out of 10, after April 30 in half of the years, after May 15 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 4 in 1 year out of 10, before October 14 in half of the years, before October 26 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 167 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 14Frost season at Waynesville, NCSpring: a frost after April 13 in 9 years out of 10, after April 30 in half of the years, after May 15 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 4 in 1 year out of 10, before October 14 in half of the years, before October 26 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 167 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 14
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.Today

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 25 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 15October 4
50% (typical)April 30October 14
90% (likely)April 13October 26
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
167 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 16
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 22

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 29 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 16 (2 days later). Frost-free season 171 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Waynesville: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 15, 20% May 11, 30% May 7, 40% May 4, 50% April 30, 60% April 27, 70% April 24, 80% April 20, 90% April 13. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 23, 2022 April 27, 2023 May 4, 2024 April 24, 2025 April 17, 2026 May 15.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 15Apr 30Apr 132021: April 232022: April 272023: May 42024: April 242025: April 172026: May 15Fall at Waynesville: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 4, 20% October 7, 30% October 10, 40% October 13, 50% October 14, 60% October 16, 70% October 19, 80% October 22, 90% October 26. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 18, 2022 September 28, 2023 October 9, 2024 October 15, 2025 October 20.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 4Oct 14Oct 262021: October 182022: September 282023: October 92024: October 152025: October 20
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 23October 18
2022April 27September 28
2023May 4October 9
2024April 24October 15
2025April 17October 20
2026May 15season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 167 days between the 32 °F 50% dates in Waynesville—April 30 and October 14—define the period when a light frost is less likely than not. These 50% dates are median points in the 25-year record, not frost dates, marking when the chance of a light frost passes 50 %.

In spring the cautious date for tender crops is May 15, with a 10 % chance of a frost later; planting on April 13 carries a 90 % chance and is a gamble. In fall the cautious date to finish tender crops is October 4, with a 10 % chance of a frost earlier, while waiting until October 26 involves a 90 % chance and is risky. Hard frosts at 28 °F are more damaging than light frosts at 32 °F, so the median hard-frost dates of April 16 and October 22 signal when temperatures reach a level that can injure most plants.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 15" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 4" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Waynesville, NCNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Cullowhee, NC — 17 mi; 2 — Bent Creek, NC — 21 mi; 3 — Waterville, NC — 21 mi; 4 — Brevard, NC — 22 mi; 5 — Asheville, NC — 24 mi.TNSC25 mi · 40 km1. Cullowhee, NC — 17 mi12. Bent Creek, NC — 21 mi23. Waterville, NC — 21 mi34. Brevard, NC — 22 mi45. Asheville, NC — 24 mi5
  1. Cullowhee, NC 17 mi (27 km)
  2. Bent Creek, NC 21 mi (34 km)
  3. Waterville, NC 21 mi (34 km)
  4. Brevard, NC 22 mi (36 km)
  5. Asheville, NC 24 mi (39 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 35.4867, -82.9681.