Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Wilmington in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Wilmington 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 · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 57°F Above 36°F · Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
- Sat, Nov 7 45°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 44°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 44°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear then Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Tue, Nov 10 47°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 47°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 Wilmington
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 3, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Wilmington Intl 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 14 · Mar 30 · Apr 13 | Oct 27 · Nov 8 · Nov 22 | 224 days |
| 32°F freeze | Feb 26 · Mar 19 · Apr 4 | Nov 5 · Nov 20 · Dec 6 | 247 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 4 · Mar 2 · Mar 23 | Nov 14 · Dec 3 · Jan 1 | 278 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Wilmington Intl 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 Wilmington, NC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Wilmington Intl Airport (station USW00013748, elevation 33 ft), 4.1 mi from Wilmington. 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 Wilmington
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leland, NC | 8.7 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 20 |
| Carolina Beach, NC | 12 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 17 |
| Boiling Spring Lakes, NC | 17 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 17 |
| St. James, NC | 22 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 17 |
| Oak Island, NC | 24 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 17 |
| Surf City, NC | 25 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 13 |
| Holly Ridge, NC | 29 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 13 |
| Shallotte, NC | 32 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 17 |
| Carolina Shores, NC | 45 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 11 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 45 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Wilmington?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Wilmington is around March 19. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 4, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after February 26.
When is the first frost in Wilmington?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 20. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 5 and a 90% chance by December 6.
Can it frost in Wilmington 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 March 30.
What growing zone is Wilmington?
Wilmington 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 28403. See growing zones in North Carolina.
More: all North Carolina frost dates · North Carolina growing zones · UV index today in Wilmington · frost vs. freeze