Frost Dates for 23824 — Blackstone, Virginia

Half of springs at Fort Pickett, VA see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after May 1. Planting tender crops after April 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 21 20%, and after May 1 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 30 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 13, 18 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 220 days one year in ten and falls short of 180 one year in ten. On average 102 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 April 24, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 28 and February 16.

July is the warmest month at Fort Pickett, VA, averaging 88°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 81% of years and May still brings one in 10% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,210 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,556) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 860. Precipitation totals 46.9 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Greenbay 3 NE, VA, 18 miles northwest of Blackstone and 170 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 7), a first frost 2 days later (November 1), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Blackstone usually arrives around January 18, and the last of the season around February 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Alberta 5 N, VA, 10.3 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 44 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23824 is 3 miles from Fort Pickett, VA, which stands at 330 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23824 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.