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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 22625 — Cross Junction, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Cacapon St Pk #2, WV (958 ft), 11 miles north.

Updated

In Cross Junction, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 23 in half of years and has passed by May 13 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 21, as early as October 6 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 180 days (NOAA, Cacapon St Pk #2, WV).

Last spring frost
April 23

50% probability

First fall frost
October 21

50% probability

Growing season
180 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 19

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 4

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
97%

28 of 29 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Cross Junction

Half of springs at Cacapon St Pk #2, WV see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 84% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 21 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 180 days in a typical year, shorter than at 76% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 201 days one year in ten and falls short of 155 one year in ten. On average 122 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 13 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 10. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and March 7.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 19Apr 25Apr 29May 2May 6May 9May 13May 19May 25
32°FApr 6Apr 12Apr 17Apr 20Apr 23Apr 27May 1May 6May 13
28°FMar 26Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 9Apr 13Apr 17Apr 22Apr 30
24°FMar 12Mar 18Mar 22Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 12
20°FFeb 27Mar 4Mar 9Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 23Mar 27Apr 1
16°FFeb 15Feb 23Feb 28Mar 3Mar 7Mar 10Mar 14Mar 18Mar 23
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 29Oct 2Oct 4Oct 7Oct 10Oct 12Oct 15Oct 18Oct 23
32°FOct 6Oct 11Oct 15Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2
28°FOct 17Oct 23Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 9Nov 14
24°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 28
20°FNov 8Nov 13Nov 17Nov 22Nov 25Nov 28Dec 2Dec 6Dec 13
16°FNov 19Nov 26Dec 1Dec 4Dec 8Dec 13Dec 17Dec 21Dec 28

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Cacapon St Pk #2, WV, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 22625 →Compare Cross Junction with another place →

Weather by month in Cross Junction

July is the warmest month at Cacapon St Pk #2, WV, averaging 85°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 30% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,173 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 82% of the 128 Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,114) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 733. Precipitation totals 42.8 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 50% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cacapon St Pk #2, WV
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan40213.6100%264
Feb43232.2100%245
Mar52303.0100%2033
Apr64403.596%6143
May73494.430%<1351
Jun81584.91%<1578
Jul85624.40%0733
Aug83603.10%0674
Sep77534.41%0447
Oct66423.483%4164
Nov54322.6100%1635
Dec44253.3100%247

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cacapon St Pk #2, WV (958 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Winchester, VA, 14 miles southeast of Cross Junction and 238 feet lower, has a last frost 12 days earlier (April 11), a first frost 8 days later (October 29), a season 20 days longer.

Frost dates for 22602 (Winchester) →

When it snows in Cross Junction, Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cross Junction usually arrives around December 19, and the last of the season around March 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cacapon St Pk #2, WV, 11.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 97% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 50 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 22625

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Cross Junction, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
February 12 – February 26Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 26 – March 12Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 26 – April 9Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 23 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 29Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 7Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 21 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 22625 is 11 miles from Cacapon St Pk #2, WV, which stands at 958 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 25411 (Berkeley Springs). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22625 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.

Frost dates across Virginia →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in Virginia