Frost Dates for 22645 — Middletown, Virginia

Half of springs at Star Tannery, VA see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 17 in half of years, as early as October 5 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 172 days in a typical year, shorter than at 91% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 194 days one year in ten and falls short of 148 one year in ten. On average 126 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 11 days longer, to about May 7, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 8.

July is the warmest month at Star Tannery, VA, averaging 85°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 39% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,123 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 85% of the 128 Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,087) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 722. Precipitation totals 40.0 inches a year, most in June (4.4") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Front Royal, VA, 10 miles southeast of Middletown, has a last frost 13 days earlier (April 13), a first frost 11 days later (October 28), a season 24 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Middletown usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Star Tannery, VA, 9.8 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 50 days after the last snow.

ZIP 22645 is 10 miles from Star Tannery, VA, which stands at 950 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 22657 (Strasburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22645 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.