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Will it freeze in Richmond in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Richmond during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 64°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.
- Tonight 64°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
- Fri, Nov 6 50°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 42°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 39°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 Richmond
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Richmond Intl Airport. 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 | Mar 31 · Apr 16 · May 3 | Oct 14 · Oct 26 · Nov 6 | 192 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 19 · Apr 3 · Apr 18 | Oct 23 · Nov 4 · Nov 19 | 215 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 4 · Mar 22 · Apr 5 | Nov 2 · Nov 15 · Dec 3 | 239 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Richmond Intl Airport
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 Richmond, VA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Richmond Intl Airport (station USW00013740, elevation 164 ft), 8.7 mi from Richmond. 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 Richmond
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland, VA | 16 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 29 |
| Colonial Heights, VA | 19 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 3 |
| Hopewell, VA | 19 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 6 |
| Petersburg, VA | 23 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 3 |
| Williamsburg, VA | 46 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 10 |
| Fredericksburg, VA | 53 mi | Apr 6 | Nov 1 |
| Farmville, VA | 53 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 29 |
| Emporia, VA | 58 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 6 |
| Orange, VA | 60 mi | Apr 7 | Oct 30 |
| Smithfield, VA | 61 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 9 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Richmond?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Richmond is around April 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 19.
When is the first frost in Richmond?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 23 and a 90% chance by November 19.
Can it frost in Richmond 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 April 16.
What growing zone is Richmond?
Richmond is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 5 to 10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 23220. See growing zones in Virginia.
More: all Virginia frost dates · Virginia growing zones · UV index today in Richmond · frost vs. freeze