Frost Dates for 24631 — Oakwood, Virginia

Half of springs at Grundy, VA see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 59% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 26 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 189 days in a typical year, shorter than at 61% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 167 one year in ten. On average 112 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 9 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 12 and February 24.

July is the warmest month at Grundy, VA, averaging 83°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°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 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,356 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 74% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,195) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 711. Precipitation totals 46.9 inches a year, most in July (5.7") and least in November (2.6"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Richlands, VA, 15 miles southeast of Oakwood and 753 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days later (April 27), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 18), a season 16 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Oakwood usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Grundy, VA, 6.1 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 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24631 is 6 miles from Grundy, VA, which stands at 1,157 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 24614 (Grundy). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24631 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.