Frost dates for Petersburg, VA
At Petersburg, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 3, for a typical growing season of 216 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 17. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 17Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 3First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 216 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 | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | May 4 |
| 32°F | Mar 20 | Apr 3 | Apr 17 |
| 28°F | Mar 5 | Mar 20 | Apr 5 |
| 24°F | Feb 19 | Mar 8 | 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 13 | Oct 26 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F | Oct 21 | Nov 3 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F | Nov 1 | Nov 16 | Dec 3 |
| 24°F | Nov 12 | Dec 1 | Dec 23 |
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 | 172 days | 193 days | 213 days |
| 32°F | 196 days | 216 days | 236 days |
| 28°F | 217 days | 239 days | 263 days |
| 24°F | 245 days | 267 days | 296 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23801 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 5 km |
| 23834 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 6 km |
| 23803 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 7 km |
| 23805 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 12 km |
| 23831 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 13 km |
| 23885 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 17 km |
| 23838 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 23 km |
| 23832 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 24 km |
| 23833 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 25 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 USC00446656, at 37.2389, -77.3925, elevation 6 m (19 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 85.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hopewell (12 km)
- Disputanta (22 km)
- Stony Creek 2 N (29 km)
- Richmond Intl Airport (30 km)
- Sandston (35 km)
- Wakefield 1nw (44 km)
- Norfolk Rich (44 km)
- Ashland Hanover Co Muni Airport (52 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.