Frost Dates for 24343 — Hillsville, Virginia

Half of springs at Galax Radio Wbrf, VA see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 14 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 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 25; 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 171 days in a typical year, shorter than at 93% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 192 days one year in ten and falls short of 149 one year in ten. On average 123 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 11 days longer, to about May 7, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 5.

July is the warmest month at Galax Radio Wbrf, VA, averaging 82°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°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 38% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,956 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,051) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 665. Precipitation totals 45.7 inches a year, most in September (4.5") and least in February (3.1"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Galax Wtp, VA, 14 miles southwest of Hillsville, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 22), a first frost 7 days later (October 21), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hillsville usually arrives around December 26, and the last of the season around March 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Galax Radio Wbrf, VA, 13.9 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 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24343 is 14 miles from Galax Radio Wbrf, VA, which stands at 2,385 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24343 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.