Frost Dates for 23124 — New Kent, Virginia

Half of springs at Sandston, VA see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 23, and one in ten still has one after April 21. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 21 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% 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 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 9, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 206 days in a typical year, longer than at 70% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 226 days one year in ten and falls short of 189 one year in ten. On average 97 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 13 days longer, to about April 20, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 97% of winters, usually between January 2 and February 13.

July is the warmest month at Sandston, VA, averaging 90°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°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 74% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,255 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 71% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,583) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 883.

The nearest other station, Walkerton 2 NW, VA, 14 miles north of New Kent, has the same 50% last-frost date, the same first-frost date, a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New Kent usually arrives around January 2, and the last of the season around March 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Richmond International Airport, VA, 14.2 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23124 is 12 miles from Sandston, VA, which stands at 165 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 23111 (Mechanicsville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23124 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.