Frost Dates for 24201 — Bristol, Virginia

Half of springs at Abingdon 3S, VA see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after April 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 3 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 20 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 182 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 203 days one year in ten and falls short of 162 one year in ten. On average 108 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 13 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 7 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Abingdon 3S, VA, averaging 85°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°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 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,501 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 66% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,279) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 729. Precipitation totals 47.4 inches a year, most in July (4.7") and least in October (2.8"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Bristol Tri City Airport, TN, 15 miles southwest of Bristol and 425 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 16), a first frost 4 days later (October 24), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bristol usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Abingdon 3S, VA, 12.7 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 50 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24201 is 13 miles from Abingdon 3S, VA, which stands at 1,925 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 37620 (Bristol). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24201 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.