Frost Dates for 24315 — Bland, Virginia

Half of springs at Bland, VA see their last 32°F night by May 6; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 22. Planting tender crops after May 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 16 20%, and after May 22 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 10 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 12, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 157 days in a typical year, shorter than at 99% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 177 days one year in ten and falls short of 133 one year in ten. On average 141 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 May 16, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 12.

July is the warmest month at Bland, VA, averaging 82°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 66% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,661 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 98% of the 128 Virginia stations. 34% of them (902) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 615. Precipitation totals 43.5 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in November (2.5"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Wytheville, VA, 10 miles south of Bland and 458 feet higher, has a last frost 11 days earlier (April 25), a first frost 8 days later (October 18), a season 17 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bland usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bland, VA, 3.3 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 51 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24315 is 3 miles from Bland, VA, which stands at 2,000 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24315 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.