Frost dates for Rocky Mount, VA
At Rocky Mount, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 20 and the median first fall frost is Oct 25, for a typical growing season of 188 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 8. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 20Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 8Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 25First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 188 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 16 | Apr 30 | May 16 |
| 32°F | Apr 1 | Apr 20 | May 8 |
| 28°F | Mar 18 | Apr 3 | Apr 23 |
| 24°F | Feb 28 | Mar 20 | Apr 7 |
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 4 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F | Oct 11 | Oct 25 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Oct 20 | Nov 3 | Nov 15 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 13 | 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 | 149 days | 168 days | 188 days |
| 32°F | 167 days | 188 days | 210 days |
| 28°F | 191 days | 214 days | 236 days |
| 24°F | 216 days | 239 days | 265 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24151 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 3 km |
| 24092 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 13 km |
| 24184 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 16 km |
| 24176 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 18 km |
| 24137 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 22 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 USC00447338, at 36.9769, -79.8961, elevation 401 m (1,315 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 104.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Copper Hill (24 km)
- Philpott Dam 2 (25 km)
- Martinsville Fltr Plant (30 km)
- Floyd 2 NE (35 km)
- Roanoke Regional Airport (38 km)
- Roanoke 8 N (43 km)
- Chatham (47 km)
- Christiansburg (48 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.