Frost Dates for 24586 — Ringgold, Virginia

Half of springs at Danville Regional Airport, VA see their last 32°F night by April 10; only one in ten is past it by March 26, and one in ten still has one after May 1. Planting tender crops after April 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after May 1 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 28 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 13, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 200 days in a typical year, longer than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 223 days one year in ten and falls short of 176 one year in ten. On average 87 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 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between December 28 and February 11.

July is the warmest month at Danville Regional Airport, VA, averaging 89°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 28°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 77% of years and May still brings one in 10% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,314 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 128 Virginia stations. 38% of them (1,634) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 865. Precipitation totals 43.8 inches a year, most in July (4.9") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Danville 2 SE, VA, 5 miles southwest of Ringgold and 179 feet lower, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 8), a first frost 4 days later (November 1), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ringgold usually arrives around January 18, and the last of the season around February 20. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Danville Regional Airport, VA, 3.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 90% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24586 is 3 miles from Danville Regional Airport, VA, which stands at 571 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24586 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.