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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 24558 — Halifax, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from S Boston, VA (329 ft), 6 miles southeast.

Updated

In Halifax, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 10 in half of years and has passed by April 30 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 30, as early as October 17 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 202 days (NOAA, S Boston, VA).

Last spring frost
April 10

50% probability

First fall frost
October 30

50% probability

Growing season
202 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

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

First snow
January 15

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 16

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
60%

18 of 30 observed

Snow per year
5.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Halifax

Half of springs at S Boston, VA see their last 32°F night by April 10; only one in ten is past it by March 25, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 30 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 84% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 30 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 13, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 202 days in a typical year, longer than at 60% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 220 days one year in ten and falls short of 179 one year in ten. On average 108 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 13 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between December 31 and February 12.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 10Apr 14Apr 18Apr 20Apr 23Apr 27May 1May 4May 10
32°FMar 25Mar 31Apr 3Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 17Apr 22Apr 30
28°FMar 12Mar 18Mar 22Mar 26Mar 29Apr 1Apr 3Apr 7Apr 13
24°FFeb 25Mar 3Mar 9Mar 14Mar 17Mar 19Mar 24Mar 29Apr 2
20°FFeb 4Feb 13Feb 22Feb 27Mar 2Mar 6Mar 11Mar 16Mar 22
16°F96% of yrsJan 15Jan 24Jan 31Feb 6Feb 12Feb 19Feb 27Mar 4Mar 12
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 9Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 22Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2
32°FOct 17Oct 22Oct 25Oct 28Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 12
28°FOct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 14Nov 18Nov 26
24°FNov 4Nov 9Nov 13Nov 17Nov 21Nov 26Nov 30Dec 3Dec 10
20°FNov 15Nov 22Nov 28Dec 1Dec 6Dec 10Dec 18Dec 25Jan 3
16°F96% of yrsDec 2Dec 9Dec 18Dec 24Dec 31Jan 3Jan 9Jan 15Jan 24

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at S Boston, 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 24558 →Compare Halifax with another place →

Weather by month in Halifax

July is the warmest month at S Boston, VA, averaging 90°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 74% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,377 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 77% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,610) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 890. Precipitation totals 46.5 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at S Boston, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan51273.6100%2416
Feb54283.0100%2223
Mar62344.099%1689
Apr72433.774%4253
May79534.410%<1498
Jun86634.90%0731
Jul90674.00%0890
Aug88663.80%0840
Sep83594.70%0624
Oct73463.455%3301
Nov63353.4100%1684
Dec54293.6100%2228

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at S Boston, VA (329 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, Brookneal, VA, 20 miles north of Halifax, has a last frost 7 days later (April 17), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 24), a season 14 days shorter.

Frost dates for 24577 (Nathalie) →

When it snows in Halifax, Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Halifax usually arrives around January 15, and the last of the season around February 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at S Boston, VA, 6.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 60% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 53 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 24558

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Halifax, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
January 30 – February 13Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 13 – February 27Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 13 – March 27Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 10 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 7Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 16Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 30 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 24558 is 6 miles from S Boston, VA, which stands at 329 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 24592 (South Boston). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24558 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