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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 23350 — Exmore, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Painter 2 W, VA (30 ft), 5 miles northeast.

Updated

In Exmore, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 4 in half of years and has passed by April 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 7, as early as October 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 216 days (NOAA, Painter 2 W, VA).

Last spring frost
April 4

50% probability

First fall frost
November 7

50% probability

Growing season
216 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
January 4

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 21

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
81%

17 of 21 observed

Snow per year
6.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Exmore

Half of springs at Painter 2 W, VA see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 21, and one in ten still has one after April 19. Planting tender crops after April 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 14 20%, and after April 19 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 7 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 216 days in a typical year, longer than at 83% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 236 days one year in ten and falls short of 196 one year in ten. On average 61 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 18, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 88%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 3Apr 8Apr 12Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 24Apr 28May 3
32°FMar 21Mar 27Mar 30Apr 2Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 14Apr 19
28°FMar 6Mar 13Mar 16Mar 20Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1Apr 5
24°FFeb 20Feb 27Mar 3Mar 7Mar 10Mar 13Mar 17Mar 20Mar 26
20°FJan 30Feb 6Feb 12Feb 18Feb 23Feb 27Mar 2Mar 7Mar 14
16°F88% of yrsJan 9Jan 19Jan 28Jan 31Feb 5Feb 10Feb 16Feb 23Feb 28
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 15Oct 20Oct 23Oct 25Oct 28Oct 30Nov 2Nov 4Nov 9
32°FOct 26Oct 30Nov 2Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 12Nov 16Nov 21
28°FNov 5Nov 9Nov 13Nov 17Nov 20Nov 23Nov 28Dec 1Dec 6
24°FNov 15Nov 21Nov 28Dec 1Dec 4Dec 8Dec 13Dec 20Dec 29
20°FDec 2Dec 8Dec 15Dec 22Dec 27Jan 1Jan 4Jan 10Jan 19
16°F88% of yrsDec 18Dec 28Jan 1Jan 5Jan 9Jan 13Jan 19Jan 26Feb 3

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Painter 2 W, 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 23350 →Compare Exmore with another place →

Weather by month in Exmore

July is the warmest month at Painter 2 W, VA, averaging 88°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 30°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 64% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,422 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 128 Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,577) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 883. Precipitation totals 47.4 inches a year, most in July (5.0") and least in February (3.1"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Painter 2 W, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan48303.6100%1821
Feb51313.1100%1524
Mar58374.099%980
Apr68473.364%1245
May76563.72%0487
Jun83654.40%0720
Jul88695.00%0883
Aug86674.50%0820
Sep80624.50%0636
Oct71514.325%<1351
Nov60413.197%5116
Dec52343.999%1440

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Painter 2 W, VA (30 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, Cape Charles 5 ENE, VA, 16 miles south of Exmore, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 28), a first frost 10 days later (November 17), a season 18 days longer.

Frost dates for 23310 (Cape Charles) →

When it snows in Exmore, Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Exmore usually arrives around January 4, and the last of the season around February 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Painter 2 W, VA, 4.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 81% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 23350

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Exmore, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
January 24 – February 7Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 7 – February 21Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 7 – March 21Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 4 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 15Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 24Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 7 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 23350 is 5 miles from Painter 2 W, VA, which stands at 30 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 23417 (Onancock). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23350 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.

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 8a places in Virginia