U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00013740 · Virginia

Frost Dates for Richmond, VA

NOAA weather station Richmond International Airport (USW00013740), Virginia · elevation 164 ft (50 m) · hardiness zone 7b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 18only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 350% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 450% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season215 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Richmond, VASpring: a frost after March 19 in 9 years out of 10, after April 3 in half of the years, after April 18 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 23 in 1 year out of 10, before November 4 in half of the years, before November 19 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 215 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 3First frost ~Nov 4Frost season at Richmond, VASpring: a frost after March 19 in 9 years out of 10, after April 3 in half of the years, after April 18 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 23 in 1 year out of 10, before November 4 in half of the years, before November 19 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 215 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 3First frost ~Nov 4
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 18October 23
50% (typical)April 3November 4
90% (likely)March 19November 19
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
215 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 22
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 15

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 3 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 6 (2 days later). Frost-free season 217 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Richmond: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 18, 20% April 13, 30% April 9, 40% April 6, 50% April 3, 60% April 1, 70% March 29, 80% March 25, 90% March 19. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 3, 2022 April 20, 2023 March 21, 2024 March 24, 2025 April 9, 2026 March 29.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 18Apr 3Mar 192021: April 32022: April 202023: March 212024: March 242025: April 92026: March 29Fall at Richmond: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 23, 20% October 28, 30% October 31, 40% November 1, 50% November 4, 60% November 6, 70% November 9, 80% November 13, 90% November 19. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 14, 2022 November 14, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 29, 2025 November 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 23Nov 4Nov 192021: November 142022: November 142023: November 22024: November 292025: November 11
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 3November 14
2022April 20November 14
2023March 21November 2
2024March 24November 29
2025April 9November 11
2026March 29season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date of March 19 carries a 90% chance of a light frost later, making it a gamble for growers in Richmond. The 50% date of April 3 represents an even-odds point, with a 50% chance of a light frost later in spring. The hard-frost median of March 22 marks the midpoint at which a 28°F frost is equally likely to have occurred or not, indicating a deeper risk than the 32°F threshold.

In a cautious plan, the spring light-frost date of April 18 is used, offering only a 10% chance of a frost later. For the fall, the cautious date is October 23, with a 10% chance of a frost earlier, while the 50% date of November 4 shows a 50% chance of a frost earlier. The hard-frost median of November 15 similarly signals the midpoint for a 28°F event. A hard frost at 28°F can cause more severe damage to plants than a light frost at 32°F.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 18" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 23" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Richmond, VANumbered nearest stations: 1 — Hopewell, VA — 14 mi; 2 — Ashland, VA — 19 mi; 3 — Walkerton, VA — 23 mi; 4 — West Point, VA — 29 mi; 5 — Williamsburg, VA — 37 mi.25 mi · 40 km1. Hopewell, VA — 14 mi12. Ashland, VA — 19 mi23. Walkerton, VA — 23 mi34. West Point, VA — 29 mi45. Williamsburg, VA — 37 mi5
  1. Hopewell, VA 14 mi (23 km)
  2. Ashland, VA 19 mi (31 km)
  3. Walkerton, VA 23 mi (36 km)
  4. West Point, VA 29 mi (46 km)
  5. Williamsburg, VA 37 mi (59 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 37.505, -77.3203.