Frost Dates for 23885 — Sutherland, Virginia

Half of springs at Petersburg, VA see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 20, and one in ten still has one after April 17. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 11 20%, and after April 17 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 3 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 12 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 85 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 16, and return around October 26. 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 Petersburg, VA, averaging 89°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°F and 28°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 57% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,497 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 84% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,669) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 904. Precipitation totals 47.0 inches a year, most in August (5.3") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Stony Creek 2 N, VA, 17 miles southeast of Sutherland, has a last frost 6 days later (April 9), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 29), a season 13 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sutherland usually arrives around January 3, and the last of the season around February 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Winterpock, VA, 10.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 86% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23885 is 10 miles from Petersburg, VA, which stands at 19 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 23832 (Chesterfield). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23885 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.