Frost Dates for 24066 — Buchanan, Virginia

Half of springs at Buchanan, VA see their last 32°F night by April 8; only one in ten is past it by March 26, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 18 20%, and after April 23 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 October 31 in half of years, as early as October 18 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 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 205 days in a typical year, longer than at 66% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 224 days one year in ten and falls short of 183 one year in ten. On average 96 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 22, and return around October 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 27 and February 13.

July is the warmest month at Buchanan, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 27°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 78% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,986 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 58% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,478) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 834. Precipitation totals 43.5 inches a year, most in July (4.5") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Bedford, VA, 17 miles southeast of Buchanan, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 7), the same first-frost date, a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Buchanan usually arrives around December 20, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Buchanan, VA, 0.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 36 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24066 is under a mile from Buchanan, VA, which stands at 880 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 24066 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.