Frost Dates for 22973 — Stanardsville, Virginia

Half of springs at Somerset, VA see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by April 1, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 6 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 22 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 20, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 188 days in a typical year, shorter than at 63% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 165 one year in ten. On average 109 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 12 days longer, to about April 29, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 13 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Somerset, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 16% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,803 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 53% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,390) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 812. Precipitation totals 45.1 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Charlottesville Airport, VA, 11 miles south of Stanardsville, has a last frost 14 days earlier (April 3), a first frost 10 days later (November 1), a season 23 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Stanardsville 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, 11.2 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 55 days after the last snow.

ZIP 22973 is 11 miles from Somerset, VA, which stands at 510 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 22923 (Barboursville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 22973 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.