U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00441692 · Virginia

Frost Dates for Christiansburg, VA

NOAA weather station Christiansburg (USC00441692), Virginia · elevation 2100 ft (640 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 9only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season186 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Christiansburg, VASpring: a frost after April 3 in 9 years out of 10, after April 19 in half of the years, after May 9 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 10 in 1 year out of 10, before October 23 in half of the years, before November 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 186 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 23Frost season at Christiansburg, VASpring: a frost after April 3 in 9 years out of 10, after April 19 in half of the years, after May 9 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 10 in 1 year out of 10, before October 23 in half of the years, before November 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 186 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 23
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 25 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 9October 10
50% (typical)April 19October 23
90% (likely)April 3November 4
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
186 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 5
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 1

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 16 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 27 (4 days later). Frost-free season 193 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Christiansburg: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 9, 20% May 3, 30% April 27, 40% April 22, 50% April 19, 60% April 16, 70% April 13, 80% April 9, 90% April 3. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 24, 2022 April 21, 2023 April 25, 2024 April 8, 2025 April 14, 2026 April 22.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 9Apr 19Apr 32021: April 242022: April 212023: April 252024: April 82025: April 142026: April 22Fall at Christiansburg: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 10, 20% October 13, 30% October 17, 40% October 20, 50% October 23, 60% October 26, 70% October 29, 80% November 1, 90% November 4. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 10, 2023 November 1, 2024 November 17, 2025 October 25.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 10Oct 23Nov 42021: November 32022: October 102023: November 12024: November 172025: October 25
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 24November 3
2022April 21October 10
2023April 25November 1
2024April 8November 17
2025April 14October 25
2026April 22season not over yet

What these dates mean

May 9 is the cautious spring light-frost date for Christiansburg, carrying only a 10 % chance of a frost later and therefore allowing a gardener to set out tender crops with minimal risk. The comparable cautious fall date is October 10, when there is only a 10 % chance that a frost has arrived earlier, marking a reference point to finish harvesting tender crops.

The 50 % light-frost dates are April 19 in spring and October 23 in fall; at each of these dates the probability of a frost later (spring) or earlier (fall) is exactly even. The hard-frost 50 % dates are April 5 and November 1, indicating the median point for a 28 °F frost in the season.

A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plant tissue that survives a light frost at 32 °F, making it a more critical temperature threshold.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 9" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 10" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Christiansburg, VANumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Blacksburg, VA — 5 mi; 2 — Pearisburg, VA — 19 mi; 3 — Pulaski, VA — 22 mi; 4 — Roanoke, VA — 27 mi; 5 — Stuart, VA — 35 mi.VANCWVTN25 mi · 40 km1. near Blacksburg, VA — 5 mi12. Pearisburg, VA — 19 mi23. Pulaski, VA — 22 mi34. Roanoke, VA — 27 mi45. Stuart, VA — 35 mi5
  1. near Blacksburg, VA 5 mi (9 km)
  2. Pearisburg, VA 19 mi (30 km)
  3. Pulaski, VA 22 mi (35 km)
  4. Roanoke, VA 27 mi (43 km)
  5. Stuart, VA 35 mi (56 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 37.1278, -80.4033.