Frost dates for Buchanan, VA
At Buchanan, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 8 and the median first fall frost is Oct 31, for a typical growing season of 205 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 23. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b.
- Apr 8Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 23Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 31First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 205 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 8 | Apr 22 | May 11 |
| 32°F | Mar 26 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 |
| 28°F | Mar 10 | Mar 28 | Apr 10 |
| 24°F | Feb 25 | Mar 16 | Mar 31 |
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 | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F | Oct 18 | Oct 31 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F | Oct 28 | Nov 8 | Nov 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 5 | Nov 19 | Dec 8 |
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 | 161 days | 182 days | 200 days |
| 32°F | 183 days | 205 days | 224 days |
| 28°F | 208 days | 228 days | 249 days |
| 24°F | 227 days | 251 days | 279 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24066 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 1 km |
| 24122 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 11 km |
| 24579 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 17 km |
| 24090 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 19 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 USC00441121, at 37.5247, -79.6817, elevation 268 m (880 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 13 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 96.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Bedford (26 km)
- Roanoke 8 N (30 km)
- Roanoke Regional Airport (35 km)
- Lexington (35 km)
- Covington Fltr Plant (42 km)
- Lynchburg #2 (43 km)
- Lynchburg Regional Airport (48 km)
- Gathright Dam (53 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.