Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Raleigh in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Raleigh during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 65°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 65°F Above 36°F · Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
- Fri, Nov 6 51°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 43°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 45°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 44°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 Raleigh
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 23, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Raleigh State University. 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 25 · Apr 7 · Apr 21 | Oct 18 · Oct 31 · Nov 14 | 207 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 8 · Mar 28 · Apr 12 | Oct 28 · Nov 8 · Nov 27 | 229 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 22 · Mar 14 · Mar 31 | Nov 6 · Nov 23 · Dec 15 | 254 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Raleigh State University
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 Raleigh, NC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Raleigh State University (station USC00317079, elevation 400 ft), 4.3 mi from Raleigh. 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 Raleigh
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knightdale, NC | 8.7 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 3 |
| Garner, NC | 9.9 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 1 |
| Cary, NC | 11 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| Morrisville, NC | 11 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| Rolesville, NC | 12 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Wake Forest, NC | 12 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Apex, NC | 16 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 8 |
| Clayton, NC | 16 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 3 |
| Wendell, NC | 16 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
| Holly Springs, NC | 17 mi | Apr 6 | Nov 3 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Raleigh?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Raleigh is around March 28. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 12, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 8.
When is the first frost in Raleigh?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 8. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 28 and a 90% chance by November 27.
Can it frost in Raleigh 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 Raleigh?
Raleigh 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 27609. See growing zones in North Carolina.
More: all North Carolina frost dates · North Carolina growing zones · UV index today in Raleigh · frost vs. freeze