U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00441614 · Virginia

Frost Dates for Chatham, VA

NOAA weather station Chatham (USC00441614), Virginia · elevation 647 ft (197 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 9only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season183 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Chatham, VASpring: a frost after April 7 in 9 years out of 10, after April 22 in half of the years, after May 9 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 9 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: 183 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 22First frost ~Oct 23Frost season at Chatham, VASpring: a frost after April 7 in 9 years out of 10, after April 22 in half of the years, after May 9 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 9 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: 183 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 22First 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 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 9October 9
50% (typical)April 22October 23
90% (likely)April 7November 4
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
183 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 9
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 1

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 19 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 26 (3 days later). Frost-free season 186 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 Chatham: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 9, 20% May 2, 30% April 30, 40% April 25, 50% April 22, 60% April 19, 70% April 16, 80% April 13, 90% April 7. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 24, 2022 April 21, 2023 May 11, 2024 April 24, 2025 May 10, 2026 May 4.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 9Apr 22Apr 72021: April 242022: April 212023: May 112024: April 242025: May 102026: May 4Fall at Chatham: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 9, 20% October 14, 30% October 18, 40% October 21, 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 19, 2023 October 24, 2024 October 18, 2025 October 24.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 9Oct 23Nov 42021: November 32022: October 192023: October 242024: October 182025: October 24
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 19
2023May 11October 24
2024April 24October 18
2025May 10October 24
2026May 4season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on April 7 carries a 90% chance of a frost, making it a gamble for gardeners in Chatham.

The 50% date in spring is April 22; there is a 50% chance of a frost later than this date. The cautious spring date is May 9, when only a 10% chance of a frost remains, offering a lower-risk window for planting. In the fall, the 50% date is October 23, with a 50% chance of a frost earlier than this day, and the cautious fall date is October 9, where the risk of an early frost is only 10% for finishing tender crops.

Hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants more severely than a light frost at 32 °F; the median hard-frost dates are April 9 in spring and November 1 in fall.

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 9" 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 Chatham, VANumbered nearest stations: 1 — South Boston, VA — 31 mi; 2 — Reidsville, NC — 34 mi; 3 — Lynchburg, VA — 36 mi; 4 — Roanoke, VA — 46 mi; 5 — Stuart, VA — 48 mi.VAWV25 mi · 40 km1. South Boston, VA — 31 mi12. Reidsville, NC — 34 mi23. Lynchburg, VA — 36 mi34. Roanoke, VA — 46 mi45. Stuart, VA — 48 mi5
  1. South Boston, VA 31 mi (49 km)
  2. Reidsville, NC 34 mi (55 km)
  3. Lynchburg, VA 36 mi (58 km)
  4. Roanoke, VA 46 mi (74 km)
  5. Stuart, VA 48 mi (78 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: 36.8219, -79.4103.