Frost Dates for 24141 — Radford, Virginia

Half of springs at Radford 3 N, VA see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 16. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 10 20%, and after May 16 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 18 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 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 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 152 one year in ten. On average 119 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 11 days longer, to about May 7, and return around October 9. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 2.

July is the warmest month at Radford 3 N, VA, averaging 84°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 23°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 39% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,124 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 84% of the 128 Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,102) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 696. Precipitation totals 42.1 inches a year, most in May (4.5") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Christiansburg, VA, 9 miles east of Radford and 300 feet higher, has a last frost 7 days earlier (April 19), a first frost 5 days later (October 23), a season 12 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Radford usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Christiansburg, VA, 9.4 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 24141 is 6 miles from Radford 3 N, VA, which stands at 1,800 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24141 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.