Frost Dates for 23322 — Chesapeake, Virginia

Half of springs at Fentress Naas, VA see their last 32°F night by March 23; only one in ten is past it by March 5, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 7 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 November 18 in half of years, as early as November 4 one year in ten, and holds off past December 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 240 days in a typical year, longer than at 98% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 268 days one year in ten and falls short of 219 one year in ten. On average 52 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 11 days longer, to about April 3, and return around November 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 53%.

July is the warmest month at Fentress Naas, VA, averaging 93°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,534 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the most of the 128 Virginia stations. 38% of them (2,117) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,010.

The nearest other station, Norfolk S, VA, 13 miles north of Chesapeake, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 2 days earlier (November 16), a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Chesapeake usually arrives around January 14, and the last of the season around February 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Norfolk International Airport, VA, 15 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 83% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 30 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23322 is 5 miles from Fentress Naas, VA, which stands at 16 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23322 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.