Frost dates for Richmond Intl Airport, VA
At Richmond Intl Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 4, for a typical growing season of 215 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 18. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 18Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 4First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 215 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | May 3 |
| 32°F | Mar 19 | Apr 3 | Apr 18 |
| 28°F | Mar 4 | Mar 22 | Apr 5 |
| 24°F | Feb 20 | Mar 9 | Mar 24 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 14 | Oct 26 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F | Oct 23 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 |
| 28°F | Nov 2 | Nov 15 | Dec 3 |
| 24°F | Nov 11 | Nov 30 | Dec 22 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 171 days | 192 days | 211 days |
| 32°F | 195 days | 215 days | 236 days |
| 28°F | 218 days | 239 days | 262 days |
| 24°F | 243 days | 266 days | 293 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23250 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 0 km |
| 23231 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 7 km |
| 23223 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 8 km |
| 23219 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 11 km |
| 23222 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 12 km |
| 23224 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 13 km |
| 23220 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 13 km |
| 23234 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 14 km |
| 23221 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 16 km |
| 23237 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 17 km |
| 23225 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 17 km |
| 23235 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 22 km |
| 23236 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 24 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USW00013740, at 37.5050, -77.3203, elevation 50 m (164 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 74.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Sandston (6 km)
- Hopewell (23 km)
- Ashland Hanover Co Muni Airport (25 km)
- Petersburg (30 km)
- Ashland (31 km)
- Walkerton 2 NW (36 km)
- Disputanta (45 km)
- W Point 2 NW (46 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.