Frost Dates for 24467 — Mount Sidney, Virginia

Half of springs at Staunton Wtp, VA see their last 32°F night by April 15; only one in ten is past it by April 1, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 27 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 18, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 191 days in a typical year, shorter than at 57% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 211 days one year in ten and falls short of 167 one year in ten. On average 106 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 16 days longer, to about May 1, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 16 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Staunton Wtp, VA, averaging 84°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 25°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 89% of years and May still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,434 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,233) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 742. Precipitation totals 40.8 inches a year, most in July (4.2") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Waynesboro Wtp, VA, 13 miles south of Mount Sidney and 1,101 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days later (April 21), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 23), a season 7 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Mount Sidney usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around March 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Staunton Wtp, VA, 9.2 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 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24467 is 9 miles from Staunton Wtp, VA, which stands at 169 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 24401 (Staunton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24467 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.