Frost dates for Big Meadows, VA
At Big Meadows, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 19, for a typical growing season of 169 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 19First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 169 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 27 | May 11 | May 30 |
| 32°F | Apr 16 | May 1 | May 19 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Apr 21 | May 12 |
| 24°F | Mar 23 | Apr 8 | Apr 30 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 24 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | Oct 3 | Oct 19 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | Oct 13 | Oct 30 | Nov 13 |
| 24°F | Oct 26 | Nov 9 | Nov 27 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 123 days | 147 days | 170 days |
| 32°F | 145 days | 169 days | 192 days |
| 28°F | 164 days | 190 days | 213 days |
| 24°F | 186 days | 212 days | 237 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22743 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 5 km |
| 22851 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 6 km |
| 22719 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 22711 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 15 km |
| 22849 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 17 km |
| 22727 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 18 km |
| 22827 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 21 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00440720, at 38.5217, -78.4356, elevation 1079 m (3,540 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 136.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Luray 5 E (17 km)
- Sperryville (23 km)
- Boston 4 SE (29 km)
- Edinburg (34 km)
- Somerset (34 km)
- Woodstock 2 NE (42 km)
- Piedmont Rsch Station (42 km)
- Charlottesville Airport (43 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.