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Will it freeze in Durham in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Durham during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 64°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.
- Tonight 64°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
- Fri, Nov 6 49°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 44°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 43°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Durham
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 16, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Durham. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | Mar 30 · Apr 14 · May 1 | Oct 13 · Oct 27 · Nov 6 | 194 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 15 · Apr 2 · Apr 18 | Oct 24 · Nov 4 · Nov 19 | 217 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 28 · Mar 19 · Apr 6 | Nov 2 · Nov 16 · Dec 7 | 242 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Durham
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Durham, NC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Durham (station USC00312515, elevation 400 ft), 5.7 mi from Durham. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Durham
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill, NC | 8.7 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 5 |
| Morrisville, NC | 11 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| Carrboro, NC | 11 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 3 |
| Hillsborough, NC | 13 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| Butner, NC | 14 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Cary, NC | 14 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| Creedmoor, NC | 16 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Apex, NC | 17 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| Raleigh, NC | 17 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
| Wake Forest, NC | 22 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Durham?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Durham is around April 2. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 15.
When is the first frost in Durham?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 24 and a 90% chance by November 19.
Can it frost in Durham after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after April 14.
What growing zone is Durham?
Durham is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 10 to 15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 27701. See growing zones in North Carolina.
More: all North Carolina frost dates · North Carolina growing zones · UV index today in Durham · frost vs. freeze