Frost Dates for 23890 — Waverly, Virginia

Half of springs at Wakefield 1NW, VA see their last 32°F night by April 12; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after April 29. Planting tender crops after April 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 29 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 October 30 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 200 days in a typical year, longer than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 221 days one year in ten and falls short of 180 one year in ten. On average 88 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 26, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 31 and February 16.

July is the warmest month at Wakefield 1NW, VA, averaging 90°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°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 79% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,523 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 85% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,689) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 894. Precipitation totals 51.6 inches a year, most in September (6.1") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Norfolk Rich, VA, 5 miles east of Waverly, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 6), a first frost 2 days later (November 1), a season 10 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Waverly usually arrives around January 7, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wakefield 1NW, VA, 5.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 80% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 23890 is 5 miles from Wakefield 1NW, VA, which stands at 113 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23890 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.