Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 23487 — Windsor, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA (22 ft), 10 miles southeast.

Updated

In Windsor, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 27 in half of years and has passed by April 9 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 15, as early as November 2 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 233 days (NOAA, Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA).

Last spring frost
March 27

50% probability

First fall frost
November 15

50% probability

Growing season
233 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

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

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
45%

9 of 20 observed

Snow per year
4.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Windsor

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%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 23Mar 29Apr 1Apr 4Apr 6Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 20
32°FMar 10Mar 16Mar 20Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1Apr 5Apr 9
28°FFeb 24Mar 2Mar 6Mar 11Mar 15Mar 17Mar 21Mar 25Mar 30
24°FFeb 2Feb 11Feb 19Feb 25Feb 28Mar 5Mar 10Mar 14Mar 19
20°F94% of yrsJan 16Jan 25Feb 1Feb 6Feb 11Feb 18Feb 25Mar 2Mar 8
16°F69% of yrsJan 4Jan 11Jan 18Jan 24Jan 29Jan 31Feb 5Feb 14Feb 24
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 23Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 7Nov 11Nov 16
32°FNov 2Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 18Nov 22Nov 27Dec 1
28°FNov 11Nov 17Nov 21Nov 26Dec 1Dec 3Dec 6Dec 12Dec 22
24°FNov 28Dec 2Dec 7Dec 12Dec 18Dec 24Dec 29Jan 3Jan 12
20°F94% of yrsDec 10Dec 19Dec 26Dec 31Jan 3Jan 7Jan 13Jan 18Jan 29
16°F69% of yrsDec 23Dec 31Jan 3Jan 7Jan 12Jan 17Jan 22Jan 27Feb 2

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Suffolk Lake Kilby, 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 23487 →Compare Windsor with another place →

Weather by month in Windsor

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan49313.7100%1726
Feb52333.0100%1432
Mar59394.195%7104
Apr69483.633%<1277
May76574.00%0509
Jun83654.70%0727
Jul87705.70%0876
Aug85695.80%0832
Sep80635.80%0639
Oct71524.34%0349
Nov61413.787%5111
Dec53353.799%1344

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA (22 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, Holland 1 E, VA, 10 miles south of Windsor, has a last frost 11 days later (April 7), a first frost 13 days earlier (November 2), a season 25 days shorter.

Frost dates for 23851 (Franklin) →

When it snows in Windsor, Virginia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Holland 1 E, VA, 10.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 23487

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Windsor, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
January 16 – January 30Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 30 – February 13Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 27 – March 13Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 27 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 23Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 1Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 15 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 23487 is 10 miles 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; its figures are presented in full for 23434 (Suffolk). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23487 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