Frost Dates for 22968 — Ruckersville, Virginia

Half of springs at Charlottesville Airport, VA see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 19, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 15 20%, and after April 23 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 84% 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 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 211 days in a typical year, longer than at 80% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 233 days one year in ten and falls short of 189 one year in ten. On average 88 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 16 days longer, to about April 19, and return around October 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 93% of winters, usually between January 2 and February 6.

July is the warmest month at Charlottesville Airport, VA, averaging 90°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 30°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 58% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,455 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 84% of the 128 Virginia stations. 38% of them (1,689) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 899. Precipitation totals 41.8 inches a year, most in June (4.4") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Somerset, VA, 8 miles east of Ruckersville, has a last frost 14 days later (April 17), a first frost 10 days earlier (October 22), a season 23 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ruckersville usually arrives around December 22, and the last of the season around February 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Somerset, VA, 7.6 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 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 22968 is 7 miles from Charlottesville Airport, VA, which stands at 641 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 22911 (Charlottesville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22968 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.