Frost Dates for 24605 — Bluefield, Virginia

Half of springs at Bluefield, WV see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 13 20%, and after May 19 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 15 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 168 days in a typical year, shorter than at 97% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 189 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 one year in ten. On average 128 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 May 12, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Bluefield, WV, averaging 81°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,890 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 95% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,032) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 629. Precipitation totals 45.6 inches a year, most in May (4.9") and least in October (2.9"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Bluefield Mercer Co Airport, WV, 9 miles northeast of Bluefield, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 7 days later (October 22), a season 14 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bluefield usually arrives around November 25, and the last of the season around March 30. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bluefield, WV, 6.5 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24605 is 7 miles from Bluefield, WV, which stands at 2,870 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24605 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.