Frost Dates for 24450 — Lexington, Virginia

Half of springs at Lexington, VA see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 8, and one in ten still has one after May 11. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 11 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 23 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 15 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 201 days one year in ten and falls short of 158 one year in ten. On average 119 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 4, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and March 1.

July is the warmest month at Lexington, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°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 31% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,613 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 61% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,293) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 784. Precipitation totals 43.0 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Montebello Fish Cultural Stn, VA, 19 miles east of Lexington and 1,570 feet higher, has a last frost 9 days later (May 2), a first frost 10 days earlier (October 13), a season 19 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lexington usually arrives around December 19, and the last of the season around March 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lexington, VA, 2.4 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 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24450 is 2 miles from Lexington, VA, which stands at 1,097 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 24450 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.