Frost Dates for 22960 — Orange, Virginia

Half of springs at Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 26. Planting tender crops after April 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 19 20%, and after April 26 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 30 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 11, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 204 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 224 days one year in ten and falls short of 181 one year in ten. On average 92 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 21, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 24 and February 24.

July is the warmest month at Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°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 71% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,912 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,412) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 828. Precipitation totals 43.8 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in February (2.6"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Somerset, VA, 10 miles west of Orange, has a last frost 10 days later (April 17), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 22), a season 16 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Orange usually arrives around December 21, and the last of the season around March 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA, 2.2 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 22960 is 2 miles from Piedmont Rsch Stn, VA, which stands at 520 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22960 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.