Frost Dates for 24019 — Roanoke, Virginia

Half of springs at Roanoke 8 N, 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 2. Planting tender crops after April 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 23 20%, and after May 2 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 28 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 11, 21 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 51% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 217 days one year in ten and falls short of 178 one year in ten. On average 97 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 16 days longer, to about April 27, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 27 and February 18.

July is the warmest month at Roanoke 8 N, VA, averaging 86°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 25°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 83% of years and May still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,680 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 59% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,334) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 776. Precipitation totals 45.7 inches a year, most in June (5.2") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Roanoke Regional Airport, VA, 2 miles southwest of Roanoke, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 3), a first frost 4 days later (November 1), a season 12 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Roanoke usually arrives around January 5, and the last of the season around February 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Roanoke 8 N, VA, 1.5 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 47 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24019 is 2 miles from Roanoke 8 N, VA, which stands at 1,157 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24019 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.