U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00442044 · Virginia

Frost Dates for Covington, VA

NOAA weather station Covington Filter Plant (USC00442044), Virginia · elevation 1244 ft (379 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 15only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2750% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1850% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season172 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Covington, VASpring: a frost after April 12 in 9 years out of 10, after April 27 in half of the years, after May 15 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 4 in 1 year out of 10, before October 18 in half of the years, before November 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 172 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 27First frost ~Oct 18Frost season at Covington, VASpring: a frost after April 12 in 9 years out of 10, after April 27 in half of the years, after May 15 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 4 in 1 year out of 10, before October 18 in half of the years, before November 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 172 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 27First frost ~Oct 18
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 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 15October 4
50% (typical)April 27October 18
90% (likely)April 12November 1
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
172 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 14
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 28

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 23 (4 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 23 (5 days later). Frost-free season 180 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 Covington: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 15, 20% May 9, 30% May 4, 40% May 1, 50% April 27, 60% April 23, 70% April 20, 80% April 16, 90% April 12. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 24, 2022 April 21, 2023 April 26, 2024 April 23, 2025 April 18, 2026 April 22.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 15Apr 27Apr 122021: April 242022: April 212023: April 262024: April 232025: April 182026: April 22Fall at Covington: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 4, 20% October 8, 30% October 12, 40% October 14, 50% October 18, 60% October 21, 70% October 24, 80% October 28, 90% November 1. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 9, 2023 October 23, 2024 October 28, 2025 October 22.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 4Oct 18Nov 12021: November 32022: October 92023: October 232024: October 282025: October 22
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 9
2023April 26October 23
2024April 23October 28
2025April 18October 22
2026April 22season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date of April 12 carries a 90% chance of a frost, making it a gamble for Covington growers.

For Covington, the 50% spring date of April 27 means there is a 50% chance of a frost later than this date, while the 50% fall date of October 18 means there is a 50% chance of a frost earlier than this date. A cautious planting plan uses the May 15 light-frost date, which has only a 10% chance of a frost, and the October 4 light-frost date, also with a 10% chance, to finish harvesting tender crops.

A hard frost at 28 °F, represented by the 50% dates of April 14 and October 28, can damage plant tissue more severely than a light frost at 32 °F.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 15" 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 4" 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 Covington, VANumbered nearest stations: 1 — Gathright Dam, VA — 9 mi; 2 — White Sulphur Springs, WV — 18 mi; 3 — Lewisburg, WV — 23 mi; 4 — Buckeye, WV — 27 mi; 5 — Marlinton, WV — 29 mi.WVVA25 mi · 40 km1. Gathright Dam, VA — 9 mi12. White Sulphur Springs, WV — 18 mi23. Lewisburg, WV — 23 mi34. Buckeye, WV — 27 mi45. Marlinton, WV — 29 mi5
  1. Gathright Dam, VA 9 mi (15 km)
  2. White Sulphur Springs, WV 18 mi (28 km)
  3. Lewisburg, WV 23 mi (37 km)
  4. Buckeye, WV 27 mi (44 km)
  5. Marlinton, WV 29 mi (46 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: 37.8111, -79.9883.