Frost Dates for 24445 — Hot Springs, Virginia

Half of springs at Gathright Dam, VA see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 8, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 10 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 21 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 181 days in a typical year, shorter than at 74% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 202 days one year in ten and falls short of 160 one year in ten. On average 122 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 4, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and March 3.

July is the warmest month at Gathright Dam, VA, averaging 82°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 23°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 28% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,061 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 88% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,089) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 679. Precipitation totals 40.2 inches a year, most in May (4.3") and least in October (2.5"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Covington Fltr Plt, VA, 12 miles southwest of Hot Springs and 526 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days later (April 27), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 18), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hot Springs usually arrives around December 10, and the last of the season around March 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gathright Dam, VA, 3.8 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 45 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24445 is 4 miles from Gathright Dam, VA, which stands at 1,770 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24445 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.