Frost Dates for 24273 — Norton, Virginia

Half of springs at Wise 1SE, VA see their last 32°F night by April 25; only one in ten is past it by April 8, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 14 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 18 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 83% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 152 one year in ten. On average 96 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 7, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Wise 1SE, VA, averaging 81°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 25°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 37% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,149 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 83% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,170) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 648. Precipitation totals 51.8 inches a year, most in July (5.8") and least in October (2.9"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Big Stone Gap, VA, 11 miles southwest of Norton and 1,098 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 20), a first frost 5 days later (October 23), a season 11 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Norton usually arrives around November 9, and the last of the season around April 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wise 1SE, VA, 4.6 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 18 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24273 is 5 miles from Wise 1SE, VA, which stands at 2,564 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 24293 (Wise). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24273 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.