USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Frost Dates for 22406 — Fredericksburg, Virginia
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Fredericksburg Sewage, VA (60 ft), 9 miles southeast.
Updated
In Fredericksburg, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 6 in half of years and has passed by April 22 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 1, as early as October 19 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 207 days (NOAA, Fredericksburg Sewage, VA).
- Last spring frost
- April 6
- First fall frost
- November 1
- Growing season
- 207 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night
- First snow
- January 5
- Last snow
- February 20
- Winters with snow
- 78%
- Snow per year
- 11.3"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
14 of 18 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Fredericksburg
Half of springs at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by March 23, and one in ten still has one after April 22. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 22 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 59% 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 19 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 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 8, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 207 days in a typical year, longer than at 73% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 225 days one year in ten and falls short of 187 one year in ten. On average 101 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 15 days longer, to about April 21, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 28 and February 17.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 5 | Apr 10 | Apr 14 | Apr 18 | Apr 21 | Apr 24 | Apr 28 | May 3 | May 8 |
| 32°F | Mar 23 | Mar 29 | Apr 1 | Apr 4 | Apr 6 | Apr 9 | Apr 13 | Apr 17 | Apr 22 |
| 28°F | Mar 11 | Mar 16 | Mar 20 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 30 | Apr 1 | Apr 4 | Apr 8 |
| 24°F | Feb 26 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Mar 12 | Mar 15 | Mar 18 | Mar 21 | Mar 25 | Mar 31 |
| 20°F | Feb 8 | Feb 16 | Feb 23 | Feb 27 | Mar 2 | Mar 5 | Mar 10 | Mar 15 | Mar 20 |
| 16°F98% of yrs | Jan 23 | Feb 1 | Feb 7 | Feb 12 | Feb 17 | Feb 22 | Feb 27 | Mar 3 | Mar 9 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 10 | Oct 14 | Oct 17 | Oct 20 | Oct 22 | Oct 25 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F | Oct 19 | Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F | Oct 30 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 13 | Nov 16 | Nov 21 | Nov 28 |
| 24°F | Nov 8 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 20 | Nov 24 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 |
| 20°F | Nov 19 | Nov 25 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 7 | Dec 12 | Dec 17 | Dec 23 | Dec 31 |
| 16°F98% of yrs | Dec 5 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Dec 23 | Dec 28 | Jan 1 | Jan 3 | Jan 11 | Jan 19 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Fredericksburg Sewage, 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 22406 →Compare Fredericksburg with another place →
Weather by month in Fredericksburg
July is the warmest month at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, averaging 89°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 25°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 69% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 4,097 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 62% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,470) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 869. Precipitation totals 43.4 inches a year, most in July (4.8") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 47% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46 | 25 | 2.7 | 100% | 25 | 11 |
| Feb | 49 | 27 | 2.5 | 100% | 22 | 13 |
| Mar | 57 | 34 | 4.0 | 100% | 16 | 62 |
| Apr | 69 | 44 | 3.4 | 69% | 2 | 220 |
| May | 76 | 53 | 4.2 | 6% | 0 | 456 |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 3.9 | 0% | 0 | 708 |
| Jul | 89 | 68 | 4.8 | 0% | 0 | 869 |
| Aug | 87 | 66 | 3.0 | 0% | 0 | 814 |
| Sep | 80 | 59 | 4.5 | 0% | 0 | 588 |
| Oct | 70 | 46 | 3.7 | 49% | 1 | 270 |
| Nov | 59 | 35 | 3.5 | 100% | 14 | 67 |
| Dec | 50 | 28 | 3.2 | 100% | 22 | 19 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA (60 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, Quantico Mcas, VA, 15 miles northeast of Fredericksburg, has a last frost 9 days earlier (March 28), a first frost 7 days later (November 8), a season 19 days longer.
When it snows in Fredericksburg, Virginia
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Fredericksburg usually arrives around January 5, and the last of the season around February 20. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, 8.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 78% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 45 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 22406
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 26 – February 9 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 9 – February 23 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 9 – March 23 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 6 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 9 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 18 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 1 onward | Plant 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 22406 is 9 miles from Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, which stands at 60 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 22407 (Fredericksburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22406 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.
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.