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Will it freeze in Richlands in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Richlands during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 47°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 47°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Richlands
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 27, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Richlands. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | Apr 23 · May 7 · May 23 | Sep 27 · Oct 9 · Oct 22 | 154 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 11 · Apr 27 · May 14 | Oct 5 · Oct 18 · Nov 1 | 173 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 28 · Apr 13 · May 2 | Oct 13 · Oct 27 · Nov 9 | 195 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Richlands
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Richlands, VA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Richlands (station USC00447174, elevation 1,910 ft), 1.0 mi from Richlands. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Richlands
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion, VA | 24 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Abingdon, VA | 28 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 20 |
| Bluefield, WV | 35 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 15 |
| Bristol, VA | 38 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 20 |
| Wytheville, VA | 41 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 18 |
| Bristol, TN | 43 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 24 |
| Princeton, WV | 44 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
| Pikeville, KY | 48 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 23 |
| Big Stone Gap, VA | 55 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 23 |
| Kingsport, TN | 57 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Richlands?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Richlands is around April 27. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 11.
When is the first frost in Richlands?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 18. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 5 and a 90% chance by November 1.
Can it frost in Richlands after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 7.
What growing zone is Richlands?
Richlands is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 24641. See growing zones in Virginia.
More: all Virginia frost dates · Virginia growing zones · frost vs. freeze