Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Elizabeth City, 2.1 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMar 27
First fall frostNov 17
238 frost-free days
Last spring frostMar 271 year in 10 after Apr 18
First fall frostNov 171 year in 10 by Nov 3
Growing season238 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 8a10 to 15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Elizabeth City in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Elizabeth City during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 67°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.

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 Elizabeth City

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 2, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Elizabeth City. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast 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 22 · Apr 7 · May 2 Oct 25 · Nov 6 · Nov 21 213 days
32°F freeze Mar 7 · Mar 27 · Apr 18 Nov 3 · Nov 17 · Dec 5 238 days
28°F hard freeze Feb 20 · Mar 12 · Apr 4 Nov 14 · Dec 2 · Dec 30 266 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00312719. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Elizabeth City

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 Elizabeth City, NC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Elizabeth City (station USC00312719, elevation 8 ft), 2.1 mi from Elizabeth City. 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 Elizabeth City

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Chesapeake, VA 27 mi Mar 23 Nov 18
Virginia Beach, VA 35 mi Mar 29 Nov 12
Suffolk, VA 35 mi Mar 27 Nov 15
Kill Devil Hills, NC 37 mi Mar 15 Dec 6
Portsmouth, VA 40 mi Mar 23 Nov 16
Norfolk, VA 43 mi Mar 16 Nov 26
Franklin, VA 47 mi Apr 7 Nov 2
Smithfield, VA 52 mi Apr 1 Nov 9
Hampton, VA 52 mi Mar 24 Nov 15
Williamston, NC 56 mi Mar 20 Nov 12

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Elizabeth City?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Elizabeth City is around March 27. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 7.

When is the first frost in Elizabeth City?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 17. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 3 and a 90% chance by December 5.

Can it frost in Elizabeth City 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 7.

What growing zone is Elizabeth City?

Elizabeth City 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 27909. See growing zones in North Carolina.

More: all North Carolina frost dates · North Carolina growing zones · frost vs. freeze