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Will it freeze in Salem in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Salem during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 55°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.
- Tonight 55°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 44°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Salem
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 12, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Roanoke Regional Airport. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | Apr 3 · Apr 17 · May 7 | Oct 9 · Oct 22 · Nov 4 | 185 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 19 · Apr 3 · Apr 18 | Oct 18 · Nov 1 · Nov 15 | 210 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 4 · Mar 22 · Apr 7 | Oct 30 · Nov 12 · Dec 1 | 234 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Roanoke Regional Airport
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Salem, VA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Roanoke Regional Airport (station USW00013741, elevation 1,175 ft), 5.0 mi from Salem. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Salem
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 5.6 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| Vinton, VA | 9.3 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| Blacksburg, VA | 21 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 19 |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| Bedford, VA | 30 mi | Apr 7 | Oct 31 |
| Radford, VA | 30 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| Covington, VA | 34 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 18 |
| Pulaski, VA | 42 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 17 |
| Martinsville, VA | 43 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 48 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 25 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Salem?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Salem is around April 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 19.
When is the first frost in Salem?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 1. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 18 and a 90% chance by November 15.
Can it frost in Salem after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after April 17.
What growing zone is Salem?
Salem is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 5 to 10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 24153. See growing zones in Virginia.
More: all Virginia frost dates · Virginia growing zones · UV index today in Salem · frost vs. freeze