Frost dates / Virginia / Portsmouth

Frost dates in Portsmouth, VA

The station on this page is NORFOLK S, VA US (USC00446147), 7.1 miles from the city point. Population in the Census 2024 estimate is 96,482.

Zone 8bUSDA average annual extreme minimum 15°F to 20°F, from ZIP 23707 (1.5 miles from the city point used on this page).

Median last 32°F is March 23. Median first 32°F is November 16. The 50% growing-season length is 239 days. The green band runs from the median last frost to the median first frost. Thin ticks mark the 10%, 50%, and 90% dates.

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Last 32°F in spring

NCEI’s probability is the chance the last spring minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or after the date.

ProbabilityDateHow to read it
90%March 7Earlier date. A last 32°F on or after this day is common.
50%March 23Median.
10%April 6Later date. A last 32°F on or after this day is uncommon.

First 32°F in fall

NCEI’s probability is the chance the first autumn minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or before the date.

ProbabilityDateHow to read it
10%November 4Earlier date. A first 32°F on or before this day is uncommon.
50%November 16Median.
90%December 1Later date. A first 32°F on or before this day is common.

32°F growing-season length

Days between the last spring 32°F and the first autumn 32°F. The figure is a length the season meets or exceeds at that probability, from NCEI, not a subtraction done on this site.

Probability the season is at least this longDays
10%262
50%239
90%220

28°F threshold

10%50%90%
Last, on or afterMarch 26March 10February 19
First, on or beforeNovember 14December 1December 25
Season at least295 days269 days243 days

36°F threshold

10%50%90%
Last, on or afterApril 18April 5March 22
First, on or beforeOctober 27November 6November 19
Season at least236 days217 days200 days

Station NORFOLK S, VA US (USC00446147). Completeness flag R, 16 years used for the 32°F dates. NCEI’s annual probability of at least one day at or below 32°F is 100%. Freeze dates are conditional on that threshold occurring. Elevation 3 m. The same probability language applies to the 28°F and 36°F rows when those dates passed the same quality checks.

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Portsmouth, VA

Zone 8bAverage annual extreme minimum 15°F to 20°F

Median last 32°F is March 23. Median first 32°F is November 16. The 50% growing-season length is 239 days. The green band runs from the median last frost to the median first frost. Thin ticks mark the 10%, 50%, and 90% dates.

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Virginia. Nearest qualified station: NORFOLK S, VA US (USC00446147), 7.1 miles. Median last 32°F March 23. Median first 32°F November 16. The 50% growing-season length is 239 days.

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32°F probabilities at this station
10%50%90%
Last 32°F on or afterApril 6March 23March 7
First 32°F on or beforeNovember 4November 16December 1

Column order matches the NCEI file: for the last freeze, 10% is the later date and 90% is the earlier date. How to read the probabilities.

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Planting calendar

Frost dates for Virginia are above. Planting windows appear for states with a cited extension guide. The fall and seed tools use the numbers you enter and the station dates.

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