We explain the National Weather Service’s Frost/Freeze Program in correlation with the growing season across the Greater Charlotte area.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
The Growing Season:
Growing season in the Charlotte area TYPICALLY continues from April 1st until November 11th. That’s 225 days. But this is just an average. It is approximated between the average dates of the last killing frost of spring and the first killing frost of fall.
When a growing season begins, freezing temperatures can be extremely detrimental to their health and longevity.
Degrees of Freeze:
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a light freeze is 32 to 29 degrees. This will kill tender plants but will cause little damage to other vegetation
A moderate freeze is 28 to 25 degrees. This range can be widely destructive, with heavy damage to fruit blossoms.
A severe freeze, also known as a killing freeze, leaves heavy damage to most plants. When temperatures drop to 24 degrees or below, it freezes the ground solid, affecting even the roots of a plant.
Worst Freeze in Recent Years:
One of the worst freezes during the growing season here in the Southeast was in April 2007. Peach production was down 79% following the freeze, and South Carolina lost 85% of its local strawberries.
The Frost/Freeze Program:
So, during the beginning and end of a growing season, the National Weather Service starts its Frost/Freeze program. This is used to alert us and farmers to protect all plants and crops due to falling temperatures.
There is only a short time of the year when you will see frost advisories and freeze warnings. They’re most common in April and October in Charlotte.
Typically, Charlotte averages its last freeze at the end of March and its first to start in November.
Some Freeze Numbers to Note:
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Contact Chris Mulcahy at cmulcahy@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.
