Frost Dates for 22902 — Charlottesville, Virginia

Half of springs at Charlottesville 2 SSE, VA see their last 32°F night by April 2; only one in ten is past it by March 19, and one in ten still has one after April 16. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 10 20%, and after April 16 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 8 in half of years, as early as October 28 one year in ten, and holds off past November 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 221 days in a typical year, longer than at 86% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 243 days one year in ten and falls short of 201 one year in ten. On average 73 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 11 days longer, to about April 13, and return around October 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between January 3 and February 13.

July is the warmest month at Charlottesville 2 SSE, VA, averaging 84°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 28°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 55% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,882 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,426) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 804. Precipitation totals 48.2 inches a year, most in September (4.9") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Monticello, VA, 2 miles east of Charlottesville and 419 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days later (April 5), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 4), a season 8 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Charlottesville usually arrives around December 27, and the last of the season around February 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Monticello, VA, 1.6 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 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 22902 is 1 mile from Charlottesville 2 SSE, VA, which stands at 1,177 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22902 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.