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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 22922 — Arrington, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA (720 ft), 4 miles south.

Updated

In Arrington, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 15 in half of years and has passed by May 4 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 25, as early as October 11 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 193 days (NOAA, Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA).

Last spring frost
April 15

50% probability

First fall frost
October 25

50% probability

Growing season
193 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
December 26

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

27 of 27 observed

Snow per year
15.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Arrington

Half of springs at Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA see their last 32°F night by April 15; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after May 4. Planting tender crops after April 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 26 20%, and after May 4 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 October 25 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 193 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 213 days one year in ten and falls short of 170 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 14 days longer, to about April 29, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 20 and February 21.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Tye Rvr 1 SE, 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 22922 →Compare Arrington with another place →

Weather by month in Arrington

July is the warmest month at Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 86% of years and May still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,955 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,448) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 820. Precipitation totals 46.5 inches a year, most in May (4.6") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan48263.5100%2412
Feb52282.7100%2216
Mar60343.7100%1576
Apr70433.686%4229
May77524.615%<1448
Jun84614.50%0667
Jul87663.70%0820
Aug86644.40%0772
Sep80574.40%0554
Oct71453.874%4263
Nov61353.6100%1579
Dec51294.0100%2219

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA (720 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, Montebello Fish Cultural Stn, VA, 15 miles northwest of Arrington and 1,947 feet higher, has a last frost 17 days later (May 2), a first frost 12 days earlier (October 13), a season 31 days shorter.

Frost dates for 22967 (Roseland) →

When it snows in Arrington, Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Arrington usually arrives around December 26, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pedlar Dam, VA, 18.9 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.

Planting calendar for 22922

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Arrington, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
February 4 – February 18Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 18 – March 4Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 18 – April 1Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 15 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 2Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 11Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 25 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 22922 is 4 miles from Tye Rvr 1 SE, VA, which stands at 720 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 24521 (Amherst). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22922 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.

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 7b places in Virginia