National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

NWS Raleigh Frost Freeze Information and Climatology Maps

 

Overview and Definitions:

 

Issuance Policy

Freeze Warning/Watches and Frost Advisories will be issued during the beginning and the ending of the growing season.

 

 

Frost Advisory

A Frost Advisory is issued when temperatures are forecast to be in the 33°F to 36°F range with good radiation conditions. Typically, frost can occur when the temperature falls below 36°F, especially in rural areas. It is a localized phenomenon and can be quite variable across a small area.

 

Freeze Warning/Watch

A Freeze Warning is issued when minimum temperatures are forecast to be 32°F or less.  Frost becomes more widespread when the temperature falls below 32°F with some freeze possible. A Freeze Watch may be issued a few days ahead of time if the potential exists for temperatures to fall into these thresholds.


Hard Freeze Warning/Watch

A Hard Freeze Warning is issued when temperatures are expected to be 28°F or less.  A Hard Freeze Watch may be issued a few days ahead of time if the potential exists for temperatures to fall into these thresholds.

 

 


 

Climatology

 

When do we normally see our First(Fall) and Last(Spring) 36°F Frost, 32°F, and 28ºF freezes? Check out these maps from the  North Carolina State Climate Office (NCSCO) for freeze information on your location. 

Earliest/Median/Latest Dates for the First/Fall 36ºF Frost, 32ºF, and 28°F Freezes

 

Below are images depicting the earliest, median, and the latest dates for the first 36°F Frost, 32°F, and 28°F freezes across our region. Data is derived from the years 1991 to 2020.

 

 

 

Earliest and Latest Dates for the First/Fall 32ºF and 28ºF Freeze for NWS Raleigh Climate Sites

  Earliest Latest
  32ºF 28ºF 32ºF 28ºF
Greensboro Area 10/2/1947 10/12/1906 12/1/2009 12/10/1978
Raleigh Area 10/2/1947 10/20/1972 12/3/1931 12/27/1918
Fayetteville Area 10/8/1935 10/15/1934 12/3/1985 12/19/2011

                     

 

Earliest/Latest Dates for the Last/Spring 36ºF Frost, 32ºF, and 28°F Freezes

 

Below are images depicting the earliest, median, and the latest dates for the last 36°F Frost, 32°F, and 28°F freezes across our region. Data is derived from the years 1980 to 2010.

 

 

 

Earliest and Latest Dates for the Last/Spring 32ºF and 28ºF Freeze for NWS Raleigh Climate Sites

 

  Earliest Latest
  32ºF 28ºF 32ºF 28ºF
Greensboro Area 3/7/2010 2/24/1997 5/8/1989 4/24/1986
Raleigh Area 3/1/1935 2/2/1909 5/10/1977 4/21/1983
Fayetteville Area 3/2/1938 2/6/2000 4/26/1919 4/16/1943