Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 23015 — Beaverdam, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Ashland, VA (220 ft), 15 miles southeast.

Updated

In Beaverdam, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 10 in half of years and has passed by April 30 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 29, as early as October 16 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 201 days (NOAA, Ashland, VA).

Last spring frost
April 10

50% probability

First fall frost
October 29

50% probability

Growing season
201 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 22

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 2

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

26 of 26 observed

Snow per year
14.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Beaverdam

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.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 9Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 24Apr 27May 1May 4May 10
32°FMar 28Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 14Apr 17Apr 21Apr 30
28°FMar 15Mar 21Mar 25Mar 28Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 12
24°FFeb 27Mar 5Mar 10Mar 14Mar 18Mar 22Mar 25Mar 29Apr 1
20°FFeb 14Feb 22Feb 27Mar 2Mar 6Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22
16°F99% of yrsJan 28Feb 5Feb 10Feb 17Feb 23Feb 28Mar 3Mar 7Mar 13
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 7Oct 12Oct 15Oct 17Oct 19Oct 22Oct 24Oct 27Nov 1
32°FOct 16Oct 21Oct 24Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 10
28°FOct 26Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 10Nov 13Nov 17Nov 25
24°FNov 5Nov 10Nov 13Nov 17Nov 20Nov 24Nov 29Dec 3Dec 9
20°FNov 16Nov 22Nov 28Dec 1Dec 5Dec 8Dec 14Dec 21Dec 28
16°F99% of yrsDec 1Dec 7Dec 12Dec 19Dec 24Dec 29Jan 2Jan 9Jan 18

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Ashland, 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 23015 →Compare Beaverdam with another place →

Weather by month in Beaverdam

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Ashland, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan47273.3100%2216
Feb51292.8100%1923
Mar60363.8100%1396
Apr71453.480%2270
May77554.210%<1485
Jun83634.60%0691
Jul87684.30%0842
Aug85663.90%0795
Sep79604.20%0581
Oct69483.759%1276
Nov59373.4100%1185
Dec50303.7100%2026

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Ashland, VA (220 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, Ashland Hanover Co Municipal Airport, VA, 19 miles southeast of Beaverdam, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 2 days later (October 31), a season 1 day longer.

Frost dates for 23228 (Richmond) →

When it snows in Beaverdam, Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Beaverdam 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, 14.9 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 39 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 23015

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Beaverdam, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
January 30 – February 13Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 13 – February 27Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 13 – March 27Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 10 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 6Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 15Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 29 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 23015 is 15 miles 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 23015 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.

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 7a places in Virginia