Frost dates / By state
Frost dates in Virginia
NOAA 1991–2020 normals for a 32 °F freeze. Your own yard can run a little either side.
Short answer
Across 19 NOAA weather stations in Virginia, the average last spring frost runs from March 16 at Norfolk NAS to April 15 at Washington Dc Dulles Airport. The first fall frost comes as early as October 24 at Lynchburg Rgnl Airport and as late as November 26 at Norfolk NAS. Planting zones near these stations run from 7a to 8b.
Virginia cities
- Frost dates in Virginia Beach: last frost March 29, first frost November 12
- Frost dates in Chesapeake: last frost March 23, first frost November 18
- Frost dates in Richmond: last frost April 3, first frost November 4
- Frost dates in Norfolk: last frost March 16, first frost November 26
- Frost dates in Newport News: last frost April 1, first frost November 9
- Frost dates in Alexandria: last frost March 24, first frost November 18
Find yours by ZIP code
The table below is by weather station. For the station nearest you, and your planting zone, type your ZIP code.
Virginia frost dates by weather station
| Station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free | Zone nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Hanover Co Muni Airport 205 ft | April 10 1 in 10 after April 29 | October 31 1 in 10 by October 17 | 204 days | 7b |
| Cape Charles 5 ENE 29 ft | March 28 1 in 10 after April 10 | November 17 1 in 10 by November 4 | 234 days | 8a |
| Charlottesville 2 SSE 1,177 ft | April 2 1 in 10 after April 16 | November 8 1 in 10 by October 28 | 220 days | 7b |
| Charlottesville Airport 641 ft | April 3 1 in 10 after April 23 | November 1 1 in 10 by October 19 | 212 days | 7b |
| Danville Rgnl Airport 571 ft | April 10 1 in 10 after May 1 | October 28 1 in 10 by October 15 | 201 days | 7b |
| Fentress Naas 16 ft | March 23 1 in 10 after April 7 | November 18 1 in 10 by November 4 | 240 days | 8a |
| Langley AFB 10 ft | March 24 1 in 10 after April 6 | November 15 1 in 10 by November 3 | 236 days | 8b |
| Lynchburg Rgnl Airport 940 ft | April 15 1 in 10 after May 3 | October 24 1 in 10 by October 12 | 192 days | 7b |
| Newport News Intl Airport 42 ft | April 1 1 in 10 after April 18 | November 9 1 in 10 by October 31 | 222 days | 8a |
| Norfolk Intl Airport 30 ft | March 17 1 in 10 after March 31 | November 23 1 in 10 by November 8 | 251 days | 8b |
| Norfolk NAS 17 ft | March 16 1 in 10 after April 1 | November 26 1 in 10 by November 8 | 255 days | 8b |
| Norfolk Rich 112 ft | April 6 1 in 10 after April 22 | November 1 1 in 10 by October 21 | 209 days | 7b |
| Oceana NAS 23 ft | March 29 1 in 10 after April 11 | November 12 1 in 10 by November 1 | 228 days | 8b |
| Quantico MCAS 10 ft | March 28 1 in 10 after April 8 | November 8 1 in 10 by October 28 | 225 days | 7b |
| Richmond Intl Airport 164 ft | April 3 1 in 10 after April 18 | November 4 1 in 10 by October 23 | 215 days | 7b |
| Roanoke Rgnl Airport 1,175 ft | April 3 1 in 10 after April 18 | November 1 1 in 10 by October 18 | 212 days | 7b |
| Wallops Island Flight Fac 38 ft | March 31 1 in 10 after April 13 | November 11 1 in 10 by October 31 | 225 days | 8a |
| Washington Dc Dulles Airport 290 ft | April 15 1 in 10 after April 30 | October 24 1 in 10 by October 10 | 192 days | 7a |
| Washington Reagan Airport 10 ft | March 24 1 in 10 after April 6 | November 18 1 in 10 by November 5 | 239 days | 8a |
The average date is NOAA's 50% date: half of years have a later last frost, or an earlier first one. Plan by the 1-in-10 date if a freeze would cost you plants. Stations are NOAA's main weather stations, mostly airports. “Zone nearby” is the USDA 2023 zone of the nearest ZIP code within 10 miles. NOAA counts the frost season from August to July, so in the warmest places the “first fall” freeze lands after New Year.
How these dates work
Frost dates come from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, which work out from each weather station's daily lows how likely the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (32 °F) are by each date. We use the station nearest the middle of your ZIP code and show its height and distance, since a station on a hill or by a lake can differ from your yard.
The average date is the 50% date: half of years have a freeze after the spring date or before the fall one. The 1-in-10 dates are NOAA's 10% dates, the ones to plan by if a late freeze would cost you plants. Within one yard, cold air pools in low spots while walls and paving hold heat, so some corners freeze before others.
Other states
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Where the numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University (zone data)
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal
- NOAA, Normals calculation methodology (frost-freeze probability dates)
- US Census Bureau, 2025 ZCTA gazetteer (ZIP code centers)