Frost Dates for 24521 — Amherst, Virginia

Half of springs at Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA see their last 32°F night by April 15; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after May 4. Planting tender crops after April 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 26 20%, and after May 4 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 193 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 213 days one year in ten and falls short of 170 one year in ten. On average 105 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 14 days longer, to about April 29, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 20 and February 21.

July is the warmest month at Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 26°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 86% of years and May still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,955 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,448) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 820. Precipitation totals 46.5 inches a year, most in May (4.6") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Montebello Fish Cultural Stn, VA, 16 miles north of Amherst and 1,947 feet higher, has a last frost 17 days later (May 2), a first frost 12 days earlier (October 13), a season 31 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Amherst usually arrives around December 26, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pedlar Dam, VA, 11 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 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24521 is 9 miles from Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA, which stands at 720 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24521 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.