Frost dates for Gathright Dam, VA
At Gathright Dam, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 22 and the median first fall frost is Oct 21, for a typical growing season of 181 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 10. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 22Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 10Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 21First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 181 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 19 | May 4 | May 19 |
| 32°F | Apr 8 | Apr 22 | May 10 |
| 28°F | Mar 24 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 |
| 24°F | Mar 9 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 |
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 30 | Oct 12 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | Oct 7 | Oct 21 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Oct 15 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
| 24°F | Oct 26 | Nov 11 | Nov 29 |
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 | 139 days | 161 days | 179 days |
| 32°F | 160 days | 181 days | 202 days |
| 28°F | 185 days | 205 days | 224 days |
| 24°F | 206 days | 227 days | 253 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24986 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 17 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 USC00443310, at 37.9458, -79.9542, elevation 540 m (1,770 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 122.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hot Springs (12 km)
- Covington Fltr Plant (15 km)
- Mill Gap (45 km)
- Mustoe 1 SW (48 km)
- Lexington (49 km)
- Buchanan (53 km)
- Roanoke 8 N (65 km)
- Roanoke Regional Airport (70 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.