Frost Dates for 23434 — Suffolk, Virginia

Half of springs at Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA see their last 32°F night by March 27; only one in ten is past it by March 10, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after April 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 5 20%, and after April 9 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 15 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 30, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 233 days in a typical year, longer than at 95% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 255 days one year in ten and falls short of 214 one year in ten. On average 56 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 10 days longer, to about April 6, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 69%.

July is the warmest month at Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA, averaging 87°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 31°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 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,525 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 86% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,674) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 876. Precipitation totals 52.1 inches a year, most in August (5.8") and least in February (3.0"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Holland 1 E, VA, 10 miles west of Suffolk, has a last frost 11 days later (April 7), a first frost 13 days earlier (November 2), a season 25 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Suffolk usually arrives around January 17, and the last of the season around February 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA, 0.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 73% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23434 is under a mile from Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA, which stands at 22 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23434 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.