Frost Dates for 23415 — New Church, Virginia

Half of springs at Wallops Island Flight Fac, VA see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by March 17, and one in ten still has one after April 13. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 13 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 91% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 11 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 225 days in a typical year, longer than at 91% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 246 days one year in ten and falls short of 205 one year in ten. On average 69 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 13, and return around October 31. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 90%.

July is the warmest month at Wallops Island Flight Fac, VA, averaging 86°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°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 49% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,181 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 128 Virginia stations. 34% of them (1,406) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 876. Precipitation totals 43.3 inches a year, most in July (4.4") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Snow Hill 4 N, MD, 20 miles northeast of New Church, has a last frost 10 days later (April 10), a first frost 11 days earlier (October 31), a season 23 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New Church usually arrives around January 17, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wallops Island Flight Fac, VA, 4.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23415 is 4 miles from Wallops Island Flight Fac, VA, which stands at 38 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 21851 (Pocomoke City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23415 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.