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Will it freeze in Oak Island in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Oak Island during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 68°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 68°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 59°F Above 36°F · Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
- Sat, Nov 7 48°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 48°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 48°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear then Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Tue, Nov 10 51°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 51°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
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 Oak Island
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 1, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Southport 5 N. 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 17 · Apr 4 · Apr 19 | Oct 21 · Nov 5 · Nov 23 | 215 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 1 · Mar 24 · Apr 10 | Oct 31 · Nov 17 · Dec 6 | 239 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 7 · Mar 8 · Mar 30 | Nov 10 · Dec 1 · Dec 30 | 268 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Southport 5 N
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 Oak Island, NC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Southport 5 N (station USC00318113, elevation 20 ft), 8.5 mi from Oak Island. 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 Oak Island
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. James, NC | 2.5 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 17 |
| Boiling Spring Lakes, NC | 8.7 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 17 |
| Carolina Beach, NC | 16 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 17 |
| Shallotte, NC | 16 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 17 |
| Leland, NC | 21 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| Wilmington, NC | 24 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| Carolina Shores, NC | 26 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 11 |
| North Myrtle Beach, SC | 34 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 46 mi | Mar 21 | Nov 13 |
| Surf City, NC | 49 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 13 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Oak Island?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Oak Island is around March 24. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 10, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 1.
When is the first frost in Oak Island?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 17. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 31 and a 90% chance by December 6.
Can it frost in Oak Island 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 4.
What growing zone is Oak Island?
Oak Island is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 15 to 20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 28465. See growing zones in North Carolina.
More: all North Carolina frost dates · North Carolina growing zones · frost vs. freeze