U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00447174 · Virginia

Frost Dates for Richlands, VA

NOAA weather station Richlands (USC00447174), Virginia · elevation 1910 ft (582 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 14only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2750% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1850% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season173 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Richlands, VASpring: a frost after April 11 in 9 years out of 10, after April 27 in half of the years, after May 14 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 5 in 1 year out of 10, before October 18 in half of the years, before November 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 173 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 27First frost ~Oct 18Frost season at Richlands, VASpring: a frost after April 11 in 9 years out of 10, after April 27 in half of the years, after May 14 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 5 in 1 year out of 10, before October 18 in half of the years, before November 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 173 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 27First frost ~Oct 18
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 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 14October 5
50% (typical)April 27October 18
90% (likely)April 11November 1
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
173 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 13
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 27

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 24 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 22 (4 days later). Frost-free season 178 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 Richlands: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 14, 20% May 7, 30% May 3, 40% April 30, 50% April 27, 60% April 23, 70% April 20, 80% April 17, 90% April 11. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 13, 2022 April 21, 2023 May 4, 2024 April 24, 2025 April 18, 2026 May 4.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 14Apr 27Apr 112021: May 132022: April 212023: May 42024: April 242025: April 182026: May 4Fall at Richlands: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 5, 20% October 9, 30% October 12, 40% October 15, 50% October 18, 60% October 20, 70% October 23, 80% October 26, 90% November 1. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 27, 2022 October 9, 2023 October 24, 2024 October 12, 2025 October 23.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 5Oct 18Nov 12021: October 272022: October 92023: October 242024: October 122025: October 23
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
2021May 13October 27
2022April 21October 9
2023May 4October 24
2024April 24October 12
2025April 18October 23
2026May 4season not over yet

What these dates mean

October 5 marks the cautious fall date for finishing the harvest of tender crops in Richlands, carrying only a 10% chance that a light frost has arrived earlier. The 50% light-frost date of October 18 signals an even-odds point, while the 50% spring light-frost date of April 27 similarly indicates a fifty-fifty chance of frost later. The median hard-frost dates are April 13 in spring and October 27 in fall; hard frost at 28°F can damage plants more severely than a light frost at 32°F.

In the spring, the cautious date for setting out tender crops is May 14, when the probability of a later light frost is only 10%; planting on April 11 would be a gamble with a 90% chance of frost later. Together these dates let a gardener gauge when the risk of light frost drops low enough to expose tender plants and when the risk rises again, while recognizing that hard frosts pose a higher threat to plant survival than milder freezes.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 14" 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 5" 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 Richlands, VANumbered nearest stations: 1 — Saltville, VA — 14 mi; 2 — Lebanon, VA — 19 mi; 3 — Burkes Garden, VA — 25 mi; 4 — Abingdon, VA — 31 mi; 5 — Pineville, WV — 36 mi.WVKYNC25 mi · 40 km1. Saltville, VA — 14 mi12. Lebanon, VA — 19 mi23. Burkes Garden, VA — 25 mi34. Abingdon, VA — 31 mi45. Pineville, WV — 36 mi5
  1. Saltville, VA 14 mi (23 km)
  2. Lebanon, VA 19 mi (30 km)
  3. Burkes Garden, VA 25 mi (41 km)
  4. Abingdon, VA 31 mi (50 km)
  5. Pineville, WV 36 mi (58 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 6b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 37.0925, -81.7936.