USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 23601 — Newport News, Virginia
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Newport News International Airport, VA (42 ft), 6 miles north.
Updated
In Newport News, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 1 in half of years and has passed by April 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 9, as early as October 31 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 221 days (NOAA, Newport News International Airport, VA).
- Last spring frost
- April 1
- First fall frost
- November 9
- Growing season
- 221 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night
- First snow
- January 14
- Last snow
- February 21
- Winters with snow
- 83%
- Snow per year
- 6.2"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
25 of 30 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Newport News
Half of springs at Newport News International Airport, VA see their last 32°F night by April 1; only one in ten is past it by March 18, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 11 20%, and after April 18 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 48% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 9 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past November 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 221 days in a typical year, longer than at 86% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 241 days one year in ten and falls short of 203 one year in ten. On average 64 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 15, and return around October 31. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 83%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 31 | Apr 4 | Apr 8 | Apr 12 | Apr 15 | Apr 18 | Apr 22 | Apr 27 | May 3 |
| 32°F | Mar 18 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 29 | Apr 1 | Apr 4 | Apr 7 | Apr 11 | Apr 18 |
| 28°F | Mar 2 | Mar 9 | Mar 14 | Mar 17 | Mar 20 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 31 | Apr 4 |
| 24°F | Feb 13 | Feb 21 | Feb 27 | Mar 2 | Mar 6 | Mar 11 | Mar 14 | Mar 19 | Mar 25 |
| 20°F99% of yrs | Jan 23 | Feb 1 | Feb 7 | Feb 13 | Feb 19 | Feb 25 | Mar 1 | Mar 5 | Mar 12 |
| 16°F83% of yrs | Jan 3 | Jan 15 | Jan 22 | Jan 28 | Jan 31 | Feb 5 | Feb 12 | Feb 20 | Feb 28 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 20 | Oct 24 | Oct 26 | Oct 29 | Oct 31 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 6 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 4 | Nov 6 | Nov 9 | Nov 11 | Nov 14 | Nov 18 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F | Nov 5 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 17 | Nov 20 | Nov 24 | Nov 28 | Dec 2 | Dec 8 |
| 24°F | Nov 15 | Nov 22 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 24 | Jan 1 |
| 20°F99% of yrs | Dec 1 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 20 | Dec 26 | Jan 1 | Jan 4 | Jan 11 | Jan 21 |
| 16°F83% of yrs | Dec 14 | Dec 24 | Dec 30 | Jan 2 | Jan 7 | Jan 12 | Jan 18 | Jan 26 | Feb 2 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Newport News International Airport, 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 23601 →Compare Newport News with another place →
Weather by month in Newport News
July is the warmest month at Newport News International Airport, VA, averaging 88°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 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 50% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 4,627 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 91% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,700) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 907. Precipitation totals 45.5 inches a year, most in August (5.4") and least in February (2.6"); May to September bring 50% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49 | 31 | 3.1 | 100% | 18 | 29 |
| Feb | 53 | 32 | 2.6 | 100% | 15 | 36 |
| Mar | 59 | 38 | 3.4 | 97% | 8 | 103 |
| Apr | 70 | 47 | 3.1 | 50% | 1 | 277 |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.7 | 3% | 0 | 516 |
| Jun | 85 | 65 | 4.1 | 0% | 0 | 738 |
| Jul | 88 | 70 | 4.7 | 0% | 0 | 907 |
| Aug | 87 | 68 | 5.4 | 0% | 0 | 848 |
| Sep | 81 | 63 | 5.0 | 0% | 0 | 652 |
| Oct | 71 | 51 | 4.2 | 13% | 1 | 360 |
| Nov | 61 | 40 | 3.0 | 95% | 6 | 114 |
| Dec | 53 | 34 | 3.2 | 98% | 15 | 47 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Newport News International Airport, VA (42 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, Langley AFB, VA, 6 miles east of Newport News, has a last frost 8 days earlier (March 24), a first frost 6 days later (November 15), a season 17 days longer.
When it snows in Newport News, Virginia
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Newport News usually arrives around January 14, and the last of the season around February 21. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Norfolk International Airport, VA, 18 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 83% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 39 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 23601
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 21 – February 4 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 4 – February 18 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 4 – March 18 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 1 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 17 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 26 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 9 onward | Plant 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 23601 is 6 miles from Newport News International Airport, VA, which stands at 42 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 11 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 23608 (Newport News). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23601 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.
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.