Frost Dates for 23417 — Onancock, Virginia

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%.

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.

The nearest other station, Wallops Island Flight Fac, VA, 23 miles northeast of Onancock, has a last frost 4 days earlier (March 31), a first frost 4 days later (November 11), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Onancock 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, 9.2 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.

ZIP 23417 is 9 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. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23417 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.