Frost dates for Elk Creek 4ssw, VA
At Elk Creek 4ssw, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 16 and the median first fall frost is Oct 27, for a typical growing season of 193 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 2. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 16Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 2Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 27First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 193 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 14 | Apr 28 | May 14 |
| 32°F | Apr 3 | Apr 16 | May 2 |
| 28°F | Mar 22 | Apr 5 | Apr 18 |
| 24°F | Mar 13 | Mar 27 | Apr 9 |
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 | Oct 6 | Oct 18 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F | Oct 15 | Oct 27 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F | Oct 24 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 14 | Dec 2 |
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 | 151 days | 172 days | 191 days |
| 32°F | 172 days | 193 days | 212 days |
| 28°F | 194 days | 213 days | 233 days |
| 24°F | 212 days | 233 days | 258 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24348 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 3 km |
| 24326 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 6 km |
| 24374 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 24322 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 16 km |
| 24363 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 20 km |
| 24378 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 20 km |
| 24375 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 21 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 USC00442730, at 36.6722, -81.1944, elevation 1048 m (3,439 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 3 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 89.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Galax Water Plant (25 km)
- Galax Radio Wbrf (25 km)
- Wytheville (34 km)
- Bland (48 km)
- Burkes Garden (48 km)
- Pulaski 2 E (56 km)
- Saltville 1n (57 km)
- Meadows Of Dan 5 SW (67 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.