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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 20117 — Middleburg, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Mt Wx, VA (1,659 ft), 9 miles northwest.

Updated

In Middleburg, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 17 in half of years and has passed by May 6 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 1, as early as October 17 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 198 days (NOAA, Mt Wx, VA).

Last spring frost
April 17

50% probability

First fall frost
November 1

50% probability

Growing season
198 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 24

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 21

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

17 of 17 observed

Snow per year
19.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Middleburg

Half of springs at Mt Wx, VA see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by April 3, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 51% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 217 days one year in ten and falls short of 173 one year in ten. On average 105 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about April 29, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 17 and March 9.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 14Apr 19Apr 22Apr 25Apr 29May 1May 5May 9May 16
32°FApr 3Apr 7Apr 10Apr 14Apr 17Apr 21Apr 25Apr 30May 6
28°FMar 23Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 6Apr 9Apr 12Apr 17Apr 23
24°FMar 11Mar 18Mar 22Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 13
20°FFeb 28Mar 7Mar 12Mar 16Mar 19Mar 23Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4
16°FFeb 15Feb 24Mar 1Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 29
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 6Oct 11Oct 15Oct 19Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 3
32°FOct 17Oct 23Oct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 9Nov 15
28°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 27
24°FNov 6Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 21Nov 24Nov 28Dec 2Dec 9
20°FNov 15Nov 21Nov 25Nov 29Dec 2Dec 6Dec 10Dec 16Dec 24
16°FNov 27Dec 2Dec 7Dec 12Dec 17Dec 22Dec 26Jan 1Jan 9

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Mt Wx, VA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 20117 →Compare Middleburg with another place →

Weather by month in Middleburg

July is the warmest month at Mt Wx, VA, averaging 82°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,269 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 78% of the 128 Virginia stations. 34% of them (1,119) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 732. Precipitation totals 46.5 inches a year, most in September (5.3") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Mt Wx, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan40223.3100%254
Feb43243.0100%236
Mar50303.7100%1836
Apr62413.493%5142
May70514.918%<1342
Jun79614.80%0590
Jul82654.00%0732
Aug81643.60%0691
Sep75575.30%0472
Oct64463.649%1195
Nov53363.2100%1147
Dec43273.7100%2212

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Mt Wx, VA (1,659 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Mt Wx 3, VA, 10 miles northwest of Middleburg, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 3 days earlier (October 29), a season 4 days shorter.

Frost dates for 22620 (Boyce) →

When it snows in Middleburg, Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Middleburg usually arrives around December 24, and the last of the season around February 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at The Plains 2 NNE, VA, 6.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 55 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 20117

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Middleburg, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
February 6 – February 20Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 20 – March 6Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 20 – April 3Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 17 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 9Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 18Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 1 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 20117 is 9 miles from Mt Wx, VA, which stands at 1,659 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 20135 (Bluemont). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 20117 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Virginia →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in Virginia