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Will it freeze in Hickory in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Hickory during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 58°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
1 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 58°F Above 36°F · Areas Of Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 45°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 40°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 Hickory
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Hickory FAA Airport. 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 29 · Apr 13 · Apr 29 | Oct 13 · Oct 26 · Nov 6 | 196 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 13 · Mar 31 · Apr 16 | Oct 22 · Nov 4 · Nov 18 | 219 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 26 · Mar 18 · Apr 3 | Nov 1 · Nov 15 · Dec 5 | 242 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Hickory FAA Airport
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 Hickory, NC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Hickory FAA Airport (station USW00003810, elevation 1,143 ft), 3.4 mi from Hickory. 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 Hickory
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long View, NC | 3.7 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| Conover, NC | 6.2 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
| Newton, NC | 7.5 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
| Sawmills, NC | 9.9 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| Lenoir, NC | 16 mi | Apr 7 | Oct 31 |
| Lincolnton, NC | 19 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 28 |
| Morganton, NC | 21 mi | Apr 7 | Oct 28 |
| Cherryville, NC | 25 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 28 |
| Statesville, NC | 25 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| Mooresville, NC | 30 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 28 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Hickory?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Hickory is around March 31. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 16, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 13.
When is the first frost in Hickory?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 22 and a 90% chance by November 18.
Can it frost in Hickory 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 13.
What growing zone is Hickory?
Hickory 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 28601. See growing zones in North Carolina.
More: all North Carolina frost dates · North Carolina growing zones · UV index today in Hickory · frost vs. freeze