Frost Dates for 24148 — Ridgeway, Virginia

Half of springs at Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 11. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 11 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 48% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 21 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 179 days in a typical year, shorter than at 78% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 197 days one year in ten and falls short of 157 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 5, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 2.

July is the warmest month at Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA, averaging 88°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 31% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,780 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,388) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 806. Precipitation totals 47.3 inches a year, most in September (5.1") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Eden, NC, 11 miles southeast of Ridgeway, has a last frost 13 days earlier (April 11), a first frost 8 days later (October 29), a season 22 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ridgeway usually arrives around January 18, and the last of the season around February 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA, 7.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 52% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 58 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24148 is 8 miles from Martinsville Fltr Plt, VA, which stands at 780 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 24112 (Martinsville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24148 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.