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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 22578 — White Stone, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from N, VA (4 ft), 15 miles south.

Updated

In White Stone, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 1 in half of years and has passed by April 15 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 10, as early as October 31 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 223 days (NOAA, N, VA).

Last spring frost
April 1

50% probability

First fall frost
November 10

50% probability

Growing season
223 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
January 9

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 16

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

15 of 15 observed

Snow per year
8.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in White Stone

Half of springs at N, VA see their last 32°F night by April 1; only one in ten is past it by March 20, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 10 20%, and after April 15 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 10 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 3, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 223 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 242 days one year in ten and falls short of 205 one year in ten. On average 77 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 14 days longer, to about April 15, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 90%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 31Apr 4Apr 8Apr 12Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 25May 3
32°FMar 20Mar 25Mar 28Mar 31Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 15
28°FMar 5Mar 10Mar 15Mar 18Mar 21Mar 25Mar 28Mar 31Apr 3
24°FFeb 17Feb 25Feb 28Mar 4Mar 7Mar 11Mar 14Mar 19Mar 25
20°FJan 28Feb 5Feb 11Feb 18Feb 24Feb 28Mar 3Mar 8Mar 14
16°F90% of yrsJan 8Jan 18Jan 24Jan 31Feb 4Feb 9Feb 16Feb 23Mar 2
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 18Oct 23Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12
32°FOct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 10Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 26
28°FNov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 4Dec 10
24°FNov 18Nov 25Nov 30Dec 3Dec 6Dec 11Dec 17Dec 23Dec 31
20°FDec 3Dec 9Dec 16Dec 21Dec 25Dec 29Jan 2Jan 8Jan 17
16°F90% of yrsDec 16Dec 24Dec 29Jan 1Jan 6Jan 11Jan 16Jan 23Feb 2

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at N, 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 22578 →Compare White Stone with another place →

Weather by month in White Stone

July is the warmest month at N, VA, averaging 85°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 29°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 52% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,148 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 65% of the 128 Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,459) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 849. Precipitation totals 51.9 inches a year, most in July (5.8") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at N, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan47294.0100%2218
Feb49302.9100%2023
Mar56363.999%1269
Apr66463.952%1208
May73564.40%0455
Jun81654.50%0686
Jul85705.80%0849
Aug83685.50%0798
Sep78635.10%0613
Oct69514.712%<1310
Nov59403.394%690
Dec51333.999%1728

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at N, VA (4 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, W Pt 2 NW, VA, 25 miles west of White Stone, has a last frost 5 days later (April 6), a first frost 9 days earlier (November 1), a season 15 days shorter.

Frost dates for 23181 (West Point) →

When it snows in White Stone, Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in White Stone usually arrives around January 9, and the last of the season around February 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at N, VA, 15.2 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 44 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 22578

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for White Stone, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
January 21 – February 4Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 4 – February 18Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 4 – March 18Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 1 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 18Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 27Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 10 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 22578 is 15 miles from N, VA, which stands at 4 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 23061 (Gloucester). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22578 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°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 8a places in Virginia