Hard Freeze Officially Ends the 2025 Growing Season in Rowan County

The growing season has officially come to an end across Rowan County following last night’s widespread hard freeze. Overnight lows dropped well below freezing countywide, with temperatures falling into the mid-20s in many locations.

The National Weather Service confirms that with this hard freeze, the 2025 growing season is now considered complete. As a result, Freeze Warnings and Frost Advisories will no longer be issued until spring 2026, when vegetation begins to emerge once again.

A Hard Freeze Means Growing Season Is Over

A “hard freeze” occurs when temperatures fall to 28°F or colder for several hours, killing most remaining sensitive vegetation and signaling the end of the active growing period. While frost and light freezes had occurred in parts of the county earlier this fall, last night’s deeper chill reached every community, marking the final close of this year’s agricultural cycle.

Gardeners, farmers, and plant enthusiasts can now safely assume that unprotected warm-season crops and outdoor annuals have been damaged or ended by the cold.

Looking Ahead to Spring 2026

The next round of frost and freeze alerts won’t return until the start of the next growing season, typically beginning in late March or early April depending on spring temperatures. Until then, the region will remain under the control of seasonal cool air and periodic cold snaps as winter approaches.

While the landscape begins to shift toward its dormant state, the return of milder temperatures later this week will make for comfortable conditions heading into mid-November.