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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 24528 — Brookneal, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Brookneal, VA (408 ft), 3 miles west.

Updated

In Brookneal, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 17 in half of years and has passed by May 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 24, as early as October 10 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 188 days (NOAA, Brookneal, VA).

Last spring frost
April 17

50% probability

First fall frost
October 24

50% probability

Growing season
188 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
January 5

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 20

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
96%

22 of 23 observed

Snow per year
7.4"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Brookneal

Half of springs at Brookneal, VA see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 29 20%, and after May 5 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 24 in half of years, as early as October 10 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 19, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 188 days in a typical year, shorter than at 63% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 125 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 April 29, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 15 and February 24.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 14Apr 18Apr 22Apr 26Apr 29May 2May 5May 10May 15
32°FApr 2Apr 7Apr 11Apr 14Apr 17Apr 20Apr 24Apr 29May 5
28°FMar 20Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 19
24°FMar 5Mar 12Mar 16Mar 19Mar 22Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 6
20°FFeb 14Feb 24Feb 28Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 16Mar 20Mar 27
16°F99% of yrsJan 26Feb 4Feb 10Feb 16Feb 24Feb 28Mar 4Mar 10Mar 17
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 3Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 15Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 28
32°FOct 10Oct 14Oct 18Oct 22Oct 24Oct 27Oct 29Nov 1Nov 5
28°FOct 17Oct 23Oct 28Oct 31Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 15
24°FOct 28Nov 1Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 24Dec 1
20°FNov 7Nov 13Nov 18Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 4Dec 9Dec 20
16°F99% of yrsNov 22Nov 30Dec 3Dec 8Dec 15Dec 22Dec 30Jan 5Jan 14

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Brookneal, VA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 24528 →Compare Brookneal with another place →

Weather by month in Brookneal

July is the warmest month at Brookneal, VA, averaging 88°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 24°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 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,971 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 57% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,478) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 826. Precipitation totals 46.0 inches a year, most in May (4.8") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Brookneal, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan48243.7100%2612
Feb52262.8100%2316
Mar60324.0100%1971
Apr71423.491%7227
May78524.818%1465
Jun86604.10%0687
Jul88654.30%0826
Aug87643.50%0790
Sep81564.30%<1560
Oct71433.876%5243
Nov60323.6100%1956
Dec51273.7100%2517

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Brookneal, VA (408 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Charlotte Court House, VA, 14 miles east of Brookneal and 161 feet higher, has a last frost 7 days earlier (April 10), a first frost 6 days later (October 30), a season 13 days longer.

Frost dates for 23923 (Charlotte Court House) →

When it snows in Brookneal, Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Brookneal usually arrives around January 5, and the last of the season around February 20. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Brookneal, VA, 2.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 56 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 24528

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Brookneal, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
February 6 – February 20Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 20 – March 6Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 20 – April 3Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 17 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 1Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 10Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 24 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 24528 is 3 miles from Brookneal, VA, which stands at 408 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 24577 (Nathalie). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24528 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.

Frost dates across Virginia →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7b places in Virginia