Frost Dates for 22842 — Mount Jackson, Virginia

Half of springs at Edinburg, VA see their last 32°F night by April 25; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 13 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 19 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 28; 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 174 days in a typical year, shorter than at 86% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 194 days one year in ten and falls short of 153 one year in ten. On average 132 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 10 days longer, to about May 5, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 8.

July is the warmest month at Edinburg, VA, averaging 85°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°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 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,211 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 80% of the 128 Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,116) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 733. Precipitation totals 37.3 inches a year, most in June (4.3") and least in February (1.8"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Woodstock 2 NE, VA, 15 miles northeast of Mount Jackson and 253 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 24), a first frost 1 day later (October 20), a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Mount Jackson usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Edinburg, VA, 6.2 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 46 days after the last snow.

ZIP 22842 is 6 miles from Edinburg, VA, which stands at 928 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 22824 (Edinburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22842 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.