Frost Dates for 24236 — Damascus, Virginia

Half of springs at Mountain City 2, TN see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 15 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 14 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 28, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 170 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 192 days one year in ten and falls short of 149 one year in ten. On average 126 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 12 days longer, to about May 9, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 5.

July is the warmest month at Mountain City 2, TN, averaging 82°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°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 3,119 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,132) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 657. Precipitation totals 47.3 inches a year, most in May (5.2") and least in October (2.8"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Abingdon 3S, VA, 11 miles west of Damascus and 494 feet lower, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 6 days later (October 20), a season 12 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Damascus usually arrives around December 30, and the last of the season around February 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mountain City 2, TN, 10.6 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 59 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24236 is 11 miles from Mountain City 2, TN, which stands at 2,419 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 37683 (Mountain City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24236 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.