Frost Dates for 22603 — Winchester, Virginia

Half of springs at Winchester, VA see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 30, and one in ten still has one after April 29. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 21 20%, and after April 29 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 52% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 29 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 12, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 200 days in a typical year, longer than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 221 days one year in ten and falls short of 178 one year in ten. On average 101 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 23 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Winchester, VA, averaging 86°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 85% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,590 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 63% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,282) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 798. Precipitation totals 40.7 inches a year, most in May (4.2") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Winchester 7 SE, VA, 7 miles southeast of Winchester, has a last frost 14 days later (April 25), a first frost 11 days earlier (October 18), a season 26 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Winchester usually arrives around December 16, and the last of the season around March 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Winchester, VA, 5.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 29 days after the last snow.

ZIP 22603 is 6 miles from Winchester, VA, which stands at 720 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 22602 (Winchester). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22603 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.