U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00268761 · Nevada

Frost Dates for Virginia City, NV

NOAA weather station Virginia City (USC00268761), Nevada · elevation 6340 ft (1932 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter June 5only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMay 1250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1750% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season155 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Virginia City, NVSpring: a frost after April 23 in 9 years out of 10, after May 12 in half of the years, after June 5 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 1 in 1 year out of 10, before October 17 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 155 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~May 12First frost ~Oct 17Frost season at Virginia City, NVSpring: a frost after April 23 in 9 years out of 10, after May 12 in half of the years, after June 5 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 1 in 1 year out of 10, before October 17 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 155 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~May 12First frost ~Oct 17
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 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)June 5October 1
50% (typical)May 12October 17
90% (likely)April 23November 6
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
155 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 24
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 31

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost May 13 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 12 (5 days earlier). Frost-free season 153 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 Virginia City: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% June 5, 20% May 30, 30% May 22, 40% May 16, 50% May 12, 60% May 7, 70% May 2, 80% April 28, 90% April 23. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2022 May 20, 2026 April 23.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1Jun 1Jun 5May 12Apr 232022: May 202026: April 23Fall at Virginia City: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 1, 20% October 5, 30% October 10, 40% October 14, 50% October 17, 60% October 21, 70% October 25, 80% October 31, 90% November 6. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2022 October 23, 2025 October 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 1Oct 17Nov 62022: October 232025: October 11
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
2021incomplete recordincomplete record
2022May 20October 23
2023incomplete recordincomplete record
2024incomplete recordincomplete record
2025incomplete recordOctober 11
2026April 23season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 155 days between the 50% dates of May 12 and October 17 in Virginia City define the window when a light frost is no more likely than not; the 50% date is May 12, meaning a 50% chance of a light frost later than this date, and the 50% date is October 17, meaning a 50% chance of a light frost earlier than this date. Gardeners who prefer a cautious approach would wait until the June 5 spring date, which carries only a 10% chance of a frost later, and would aim to finish tender-crop harvest by the October 1 fall date, which carries only a 10% chance of a frost earlier. Hard frosts at 28 °F are more damaging than light frosts at 32 °F, so the 50% hard-frost dates of April 24 and October 31 signal a higher risk to tender crops.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after June 5" 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 1" 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 Virginia City, NVNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Reno, NV — 14 mi; 2 — Sparks, NV — 17 mi; 3 — Minden, NV — 26 mi; 4 — Tahoe City, CA — 28 mi; 5 — Smith, NV — 34 mi.NVCA25 mi · 40 km1. near Reno, NV — 14 mi12. Sparks, NV — 17 mi23. Minden, NV — 26 mi34. Tahoe City, CA — 28 mi45. Smith, NV — 34 mi5
  1. near Reno, NV 14 mi (22 km)
  2. Sparks, NV 17 mi (28 km)
  3. Minden, NV 26 mi (41 km)
  4. Tahoe City, CA 28 mi (46 km)
  5. Smith, NV 34 mi (54 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: 39.3128, -119.6483.