Frost Dates for 24251 — Gate City, Virginia

Half of springs at Kingsport, TN see their last 32°F night by April 9; only one in ten is past it by March 25, and one in ten still has one after April 25. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 20 20%, and after April 25 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 59% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 29 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 12, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 203 days in a typical year, longer than at 63% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 223 days one year in ten and falls short of 181 one year in ten. On average 83 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 14 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 22 and February 14.

July is the warmest month at Kingsport, TN, averaging 87°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 75% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,152 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 128 Virginia stations. 38% of them (1,575) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 822. Precipitation totals 45.2 inches a year, most in July (5.1") and least in October (2.4"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Bristol Tri City Airport, TN, 15 miles southeast of Gate City and 216 feet higher, has a last frost 7 days later (April 16), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 24), a season 13 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Gate City usually arrives around December 31, and the last of the season around February 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Kingsport, TN, 9.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 85% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 51 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24251 is 9 miles from Kingsport, TN, which stands at 1,284 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 37660 (Kingsport). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24251 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.