Frost Dates for 23005 — Ashland, Virginia

Half of springs at Ashland, VA see their last 32°F night by April 10; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 21 20%, and after April 30 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 October 29 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 12, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 201 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 219 days one year in ten and falls short of 182 one year in ten. On average 89 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 24, and return around October 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 24 and February 23.

July is the warmest month at Ashland, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 27°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 80% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,186 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 128 Virginia stations. 38% of them (1,582) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 842. Precipitation totals 45.3 inches a year, most in June (4.6") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Ashland Hanover Co Municipal Airport, VA, 4 miles southeast of Ashland, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 2 days later (October 31), a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ashland usually arrives around December 22, and the last of the season around March 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Ashland, VA, 0.6 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 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23005 is under a mile from Ashland, VA, which stands at 220 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 23059 (Glen Allen). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23005 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.