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Will it freeze in Smithfield in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Smithfield during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 66°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 66°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 52°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 44°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 44°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 Smithfield
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 17, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Smithfield. 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 26 · Apr 12 · Apr 28 | Oct 14 · Oct 28 · Nov 9 | 200 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 10 · Mar 29 · Apr 14 | Oct 22 · Nov 5 · Nov 21 | 220 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 21 · Mar 16 · Apr 5 | Nov 1 · Nov 17 · Dec 6 | 245 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Smithfield
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 Smithfield, NC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Smithfield (station USC00317994, elevation 150 ft), 0.6 mi from Smithfield. 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 Smithfield
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selma, NC | 3.7 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 5 |
| Clayton, NC | 11 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 3 |
| Archer Lodge, NC | 11 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
| Wendell, NC | 19 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
| Garner, NC | 19 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 1 |
| Knightdale, NC | 21 mi | Apr 7 | Nov 3 |
| Dunn, NC | 21 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 7 |
| Zebulon, NC | 21 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 8 |
| Angier, NC | 22 mi | Mar 30 | Nov 6 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 24 mi | Mar 15 | Nov 18 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Smithfield?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Smithfield is around March 29. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 10.
When is the first frost in Smithfield?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 22 and a 90% chance by November 21.
Can it frost in Smithfield 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 12.
What growing zone is Smithfield?
Smithfield 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 27577. See growing zones in North Carolina.
More: all North Carolina frost dates · North Carolina growing zones · frost vs. freeze