Frost Dates for 23040 — Cumberland, Virginia

Half of springs at Bremo Bluff, VA see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 17 in half of years, as early as October 5 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 172 days in a typical year, shorter than at 91% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 191 days one year in ten and falls short of 151 one year in ten. On average 117 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 8 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 6.

July is the warmest month at Bremo Bluff, VA, averaging 92°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 38% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,023 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 60% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,473) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 852. Precipitation totals 46.9 inches a year, most in July (5.1") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Farmville 2 N, VA, 15 miles southwest of Cumberland and 225 feet higher, has a last frost 16 days earlier (April 12), a first frost 12 days later (October 29), a season 27 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cumberland usually arrives around January 18, and the last of the season around February 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Farmville 2 N, VA, 15.3 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 62 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23040 is 13 miles from Bremo Bluff, VA, which stands at 225 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23040 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.