Frost Dates for 23149 — Saluda, Virginia

Half of springs at W Pt 2 NW, VA see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 21. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 21 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 8, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 208 days in a typical year, longer than at 73% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 227 days one year in ten and falls short of 189 one year in ten. On average 83 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 14 days longer, to about April 20, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between January 1 and February 9.

July is the warmest month at W Pt 2 NW, VA, averaging 90°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 28°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 67% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,559 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 88% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,709) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 905. Precipitation totals 48.1 inches a year, most in July (4.9") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, N, VA, 14 miles southeast of Saluda, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 1), a first frost 9 days later (November 10), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Saluda usually arrives around December 28, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at W Pt 2 NW, VA, 10.5 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23149 is 11 miles from W Pt 2 NW, VA, which stands at 20 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 23181 (West Point). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23149 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.