Virginia Frost Dates: Last and First Frost by Town
Across Virginia's 125 NOAA stations with regular frost, the median last spring frost is April 14 and the median first fall frost is October 28. Last frost dates range from March 16 at Norfolk NAS to May 12 at Mill Gap, so enter your ZIP code below for the station nearest you.
How frost dates vary across Virginia
- Elevation matters: across Virginia's stations, each 1,000 ft of elevation delays the median last frost by about 9 days.
- Safety margin: the median 10%-risk date (May 2) is about 18 days after the median last frost. Waiting until then cuts the chance of a killing frost on tender transplants from 1 in 2 to 1 in 10.
Frost dates at Virginia's major weather stations
These National Weather Service stations, mostly at airports, have the longest and most complete records in the state.
| Ashland Hanover County Municipal Airport | 205 | Apr 10 | Apr 29 | Oct 31 | 202 |
| Cape Charles 5 ENE | 29 | Mar 28 | Apr 10 | Nov 17 | 234 |
| Charlottesville 2 SSE | 1,177 | Apr 2 | Apr 16 | Nov 8 | 221 |
| Charlottesville Airport | 641 | Apr 3 | Apr 23 | Nov 1 | 211 |
| Danville Regional Airport | 571 | Apr 10 | May 1 | Oct 28 | 200 |
| Fentress Naas | 16 | Mar 23 | Apr 7 | Nov 18 | 240 |
| Langley AFB | 10 | Mar 24 | Apr 6 | Nov 15 | 238 |
| Lynchburg Regional Airport | 940 | Apr 15 | May 3 | Oct 24 | 191 |
| Newport News Intl Airport | 42 | Apr 1 | Apr 18 | Nov 9 | 221 |
| Norfolk Intl Airport | 30 | Mar 17 | Mar 31 | Nov 23 | 252 |
| Norfolk NAS | 17 | Mar 16 | Apr 1 | Nov 26 | 255 |
| Norfolk Rich | 112 | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Oceana NAS | 23 | Mar 29 | Apr 11 | Nov 12 | 230 |
| Quantico McAs | 10 | Mar 28 | Apr 8 | Nov 8 | 226 |
| Richmond Intl Airport | 164 | Apr 3 | Apr 18 | Nov 4 | 215 |
| Roanoke Regional Airport | 1,175 | Apr 3 | Apr 18 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Wallops Island Flight Fac | 38 | Mar 31 | Apr 13 | Nov 11 | 225 |
| Washington Dc Dulles Airport | 290 | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 24 | 194 |
| Washington Reagan Airport | 10 | Mar 24 | Apr 6 | Nov 18 | 241 |
All 125 stations in Virginia
Last frost and first frost are medians: a 50% chance of a 32°F night after (spring) or before (fall) that date. 10% risk is the spring date with only a 1-in-10 chance of a later frost. Click a column to sort.
| Abingdon 3S | 1,925 | Apr 21 | May 10 | Oct 20 | 182 |
| Amelia Courthouse | 345 | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | Nov 2 | 209 |
| Appomattox | 850 | Apr 7 | Apr 26 | Nov 1 | 206 |
| Ashland | 220 | Apr 10 | Apr 30 | Oct 29 | 201 |
| Ashland Hanover County Municipal Airport | 205 | Apr 10 | Apr 29 | Oct 31 | 202 |
| Bedford | 894 | Apr 7 | Apr 24 | Oct 31 | 204 |
| Big Meadows | 3,540 | May 1 | May 19 | Oct 19 | 169 |
| Big Stone Gap | 1,466 | Apr 20 | May 5 | Oct 23 | 186 |
| Blacksburg Nwso | 2,103 | Apr 24 | May 14 | Oct 19 | 175 |
| Bland | 2,000 | May 6 | May 22 | Oct 10 | 157 |
| Boston 4 SE | 590 | Apr 21 | May 10 | Oct 22 | 184 |
| Breaks Interstate Park | 1,893 | Apr 22 | May 8 | Oct 23 | 182 |
| Bremo Bluff | 225 | Apr 28 | May 13 | Oct 17 | 172 |
| Brookneal | 408 | Apr 17 | May 5 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Buchanan | 880 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 31 | 205 |
| Burkes Garden | 3,068 | May 9 | May 26 | Oct 6 | 150 |
| Cape Charles 5 ENE | 29 | Mar 28 | Apr 10 | Nov 17 | 234 |
| Charlotte Court House | 569 | Apr 10 | Apr 23 | Oct 30 | 201 |
| Charlottesville 2 SSE | 1,177 | Apr 2 | Apr 16 | Nov 8 | 221 |
| Charlottesville 2W | 866 | Apr 2 | Apr 14 | Nov 10 | 222 |
| Charlottesville Airport | 641 | Apr 3 | Apr 23 | Nov 1 | 211 |
| Chase City | 510 | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | Nov 1 | 209 |
| Chatham | 647 | Apr 22 | May 9 | Oct 23 | 183 |
| Christiansburg | 2,100 | Apr 19 | May 9 | Oct 23 | 186 |
| Clarksville | 330 | Mar 31 | Apr 14 | Nov 5 | 220 |
| Clintwood 1W | 1,566 | Apr 29 | May 15 | Oct 16 | 169 |
| Copper Hill | 2,846 | Apr 21 | May 10 | Oct 25 | 186 |
| Corbin | 220 | Apr 14 | May 4 | Oct 27 | 195 |
| Covington Fltr Plt | 1,244 | Apr 27 | May 15 | Oct 18 | 172 |
| Crozier | 350 | Apr 17 | May 8 | Oct 27 | 191 |
| Dale Enterprise | 1,358 | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 23 | 182 |
| Danville 2 SE | 392 | Apr 8 | Apr 30 | Nov 1 | 205 |
| Danville Regional Airport | 571 | Apr 10 | May 1 | Oct 28 | 200 |
| Disputanta | 130 | Apr 10 | Apr 24 | Nov 1 | 206 |
| Eastville | 10 | Mar 26 | Apr 6 | Nov 20 | 240 |
| Edinburg | 928 | Apr 25 | May 13 | Oct 19 | 174 |
| Elk Creek 4SSW | 3,439 | Apr 16 | May 2 | Oct 27 | 193 |
| Emporia 1 WNW | 100 | Mar 31 | Apr 14 | Nov 6 | 221 |
| Farmville 2 N | 450 | Apr 12 | Apr 30 | Oct 29 | 199 |
| Fentress Naas | 16 | Mar 23 | Apr 7 | Nov 18 | 240 |
| Floyd 2 NE | 2,625 | Apr 30 | May 18 | Oct 10 | 159 |
| Fort Pickett | 330 | Apr 11 | May 1 | Oct 30 | 200 |
| Fredericksburg Sewage | 60 | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | Nov 1 | 207 |
| Free Union | 590 | Apr 19 | May 5 | Oct 24 | 186 |
| Front Royal | 930 | Apr 13 | May 5 | Oct 28 | 196 |
| Galax Radio Wbrf | 2,385 | Apr 26 | May 14 | Oct 14 | 171 |
| Galax Wtp | 2,341 | Apr 22 | May 10 | Oct 21 | 180 |
| Gathright Dam | 1,770 | Apr 22 | May 10 | Oct 21 | 181 |
| Greenbay 3 NE | 500 | Apr 7 | Apr 28 | Nov 1 | 209 |
| Grundy | 1,157 | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 26 | 189 |
| Holland 1 E | 80 | Apr 7 | Apr 25 | Nov 2 | 208 |
| Hopewell | 40 | Mar 31 | Apr 14 | Nov 6 | 222 |
| Hot Springs | 2,244 | Apr 26 | May 15 | Oct 19 | 173 |
| John H Kerr Dam | 250 | Apr 5 | Apr 19 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Keysville 2 S | 625 | Apr 8 | Apr 25 | Nov 1 | 206 |
| Langley AFB | 10 | Mar 24 | Apr 6 | Nov 15 | 238 |
| Lawrenceville 3 E | 325 | Apr 7 | Apr 22 | Oct 31 | 205 |
| Lebanon | 1,912 | Apr 25 | May 13 | Oct 16 | 173 |
| Lexington | 1,097 | Apr 23 | May 11 | Oct 23 | 181 |
| Louisa | 420 | Apr 26 | May 13 | Oct 20 | 175 |
| Luray 5 E | 1,400 | Apr 23 | May 15 | Oct 22 | 179 |
| Lynchburg #2 | 736 | Apr 17 | May 4 | Oct 25 | 190 |
| Lynchburg Regional Airport | 940 | Apr 15 | May 3 | Oct 24 | 191 |
| Manassas | 245 | Apr 12 | Apr 24 | Oct 27 | 197 |
| Martinsville Fltr Plt | 780 | Apr 24 | May 11 | Oct 21 | 179 |
| Meadows Of Dan 5 SW | 2,225 | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 25 | 185 |
| Mill Gap | 2,421 | May 12 | May 28 | Oct 3 | 143 |
| Montebello Fish Cultural Station | 2,667 | May 2 | May 21 | Oct 13 | 162 |
| Monticello | 758 | Apr 5 | Apr 19 | Nov 4 | 213 |
| Mount Wx | 1,659 | Apr 17 | May 6 | Nov 1 | 198 |
| Mount Wx 3 | 1,550 | Apr 17 | May 6 | Oct 29 | 194 |
| Mustoe 1 SW | 2,367 | May 8 | May 26 | Oct 5 | 148 |
| N | 4 | Apr 1 | Apr 15 | Nov 10 | 223 |
| Newport News Intl Airport | 42 | Apr 1 | Apr 18 | Nov 9 | 221 |
| Nora 4 SSE | 2,658 | Apr 14 | May 5 | Nov 1 | 200 |
| Norfolk Intl Airport | 30 | Mar 17 | Mar 31 | Nov 23 | 252 |
| Norfolk NAS | 17 | Mar 16 | Apr 1 | Nov 26 | 255 |
| Norfolk Rich | 112 | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Norfolk S | 10 | Mar 23 | Apr 6 | Nov 16 | 239 |
| Oceana NAS | 23 | Mar 29 | Apr 11 | Nov 12 | 230 |
| Painter 2 W | 30 | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | Nov 7 | 216 |
| Palmyra 3S | 410 | Apr 23 | May 11 | Oct 21 | 180 |
| Pearisburg 4 SSE | 1,678 | Apr 27 | May 16 | Oct 17 | 171 |
| Pennington Gap | 1,360 | Apr 22 | May 10 | Oct 20 | 179 |
| Petersburg | 19 | Apr 3 | Apr 17 | Nov 3 | 216 |
| Philpott Dam 2 | 1,123 | Apr 14 | May 2 | Oct 31 | 199 |
| Piedmont Rsch Station | 520 | Apr 7 | Apr 26 | Oct 30 | 204 |
| Pulaski 2 E | 2,080 | Apr 25 | May 15 | Oct 17 | 175 |
| Purcellville | 510 | Apr 16 | May 7 | Oct 25 | 189 |
| Quantico McAs | 10 | Mar 28 | Apr 8 | Nov 8 | 226 |
| Radford 3 N | 1,800 | Apr 26 | May 16 | Oct 18 | 174 |
| Richlands | 1,910 | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 18 | 173 |
| Richmond Intl Airport | 164 | Apr 3 | Apr 18 | Nov 4 | 215 |
| Roanoke 8 N | 1,157 | Apr 11 | May 2 | Oct 28 | 198 |
| Roanoke Regional Airport | 1,175 | Apr 3 | Apr 18 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Rocky Mount | 1,315 | Apr 20 | May 8 | Oct 25 | 188 |
| S Boston | 329 | Apr 10 | Apr 30 | Oct 30 | 202 |
| Saltville 1N | 1,733 | Apr 23 | May 10 | Oct 20 | 178 |
| Sandston | 165 | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | Nov 1 | 206 |
| Somerset | 510 | Apr 17 | May 6 | Oct 22 | 188 |
| Sperryville | 750 | Apr 16 | May 6 | Oct 27 | 192 |
| Star Tannery | 950 | Apr 26 | May 15 | Oct 17 | 172 |
| Staunton Wtp | 169 | Apr 15 | May 6 | Oct 27 | 191 |
| Stony Creek 2 N | 105 | Apr 9 | Apr 26 | Oct 29 | 203 |
| Stuart | 1,375 | Apr 19 | May 6 | Oct 27 | 190 |
| Suffolk Lake Kilby | 22 | Mar 27 | Apr 9 | Nov 15 | 233 |
| Tye River 1 SE | 720 | Apr 15 | May 4 | Oct 25 | 193 |
| Vienna | 418 | Apr 14 | Apr 28 | Oct 29 | 198 |
| W Point 2 NW | 20 | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | Nov 1 | 208 |
| Wakefield 1NW | 113 | Apr 12 | Apr 29 | Oct 30 | 200 |
| Walkerton 2 NW | 50 | Apr 7 | Apr 23 | Nov 1 | 209 |
| Wallaceton-lake Drummond | 20 | Apr 20 | May 9 | Oct 27 | 190 |
| Wallops Island Flight Fac | 38 | Mar 31 | Apr 13 | Nov 11 | 225 |
| Warrenton 3 SE | 500 | Apr 9 | Apr 28 | Nov 1 | 205 |
| Warsaw 2 NW | 140 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 30 | 204 |
| Washington Dc Dulles Airport | 290 | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 24 | 194 |
| Washington Reagan Airport | 10 | Mar 24 | Apr 6 | Nov 18 | 241 |
| Waynesboro Wtp | 1,270 | Apr 21 | May 10 | Oct 23 | 184 |
| WFO Sterling | 288 | Apr 13 | May 1 | Oct 26 | 195 |
| Williamsburg 2 N | 70 | Mar 31 | Apr 14 | Nov 10 | 225 |
| Winchester | 720 | Apr 11 | Apr 29 | Oct 29 | 200 |
| Winchester 7 SE | 680 | Apr 25 | May 13 | Oct 18 | 174 |
| Wise 1SE | 2,564 | Apr 25 | May 14 | Oct 18 | 175 |
| Woodstock 2 NE | 675 | Apr 24 | May 14 | Oct 20 | 177 |
| Wytheville | 2,458 | Apr 25 | May 16 | Oct 18 | 174 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Virginia?
The median last spring frost (32°F) across Virginia's NOAA weather stations is April 14, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. It ranges from March 16 at Norfolk NAS to May 12 at Mill Gap. For a safer planting date, use the 10%-risk date; the state median for that is May 2.
When is the first frost in Virginia?
The median first fall frost across Virginia's stations is October 28. The earliest median first frost is October 3 at Mill Gap, and the latest is November 26 at Norfolk NAS.
How long is the growing season in Virginia?
The median frost-free season is 196 days across Virginia's stations, from 143 days at Mill Gap to 255 days at Norfolk NAS.
When should I plant tomatoes in Virginia?
Plant tomatoes outdoors after your local last frost, ideally after the 10%-risk date when nights stay above 50°F. At a typical Virginia station that means starting seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before April 14 and transplanting from about May 2. Check your ZIP code, because dates vary by weeks across the state.
How to use these dates
Frost dates are 30-year averages from NOAA, not forecasts. Use them to plan seed starting and planting, then watch the 10-day forecast as the date approaches. Cold air settles in valleys and low spots, so a garden at the bottom of a slope can frost a week or more later in spring than the nearest station shows.
Ready to plan? The planting calendar by ZIP code turns these dates into start-indoors, transplant and sowing dates for 30 crops.
Sources and method
Dates are the 32°F freeze probabilities published in the NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for each station. Station names are NOAA's, lightly expanded for readability. See the methodology or download the full table.
Frost dates in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming