Frost Dates for 24184 — Wirtz, Virginia

Half of springs at Rocky Mt, VA see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 1, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 52% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 188 days in a typical year, shorter than at 63% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 210 days one year in ten and falls short of 167 one year in ten. On average 104 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 10 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 25 and February 21.

July is the warmest month at Rocky Mt, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 26°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 88% of years and May still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,754 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,386) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 797. Precipitation totals 49.3 inches a year, most in September (5.0") and least in February (3.1"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Roanoke Regional Airport, VA, 21 miles northwest of Wirtz, has a last frost 17 days earlier (April 3), a first frost 7 days later (November 1), a season 22 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Wirtz usually arrives around December 30, and the last of the season around February 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rocky Mt, VA, 10.3 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 54 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24184 is 10 miles from Rocky Mt, VA, which stands at 1,315 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 24151 (Rocky Mount). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24184 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.