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Frost Depth in Virginia: When the Ground Freezes

1 of 5 stations freeze at 2 inches in a typical winter.

Stations that typically freeze
1 of 5
Earliest typical freeze at 2 in
Jan 20
Latest typical thaw at 2 in
Jan 28

Station by station

When does the ground freeze in Virginia?

Each bar runs from the typical first freeze to the typical last thaw at that depth, the median over the station's complete winters on record, with the typical number of frozen days after it. Frost reaches the deeper probes later in the winter. A depth that froze in fewer than half of its winters has no typical dates. Stations: 1 typically freeze, 4 never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Cape Charles 5 ENE

USCRN

In 3 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 32.2°F at 2 inches, 31.8°F at 4 inches, 33.6°F at 8 inches, 37.6°F at 20 inches and 37.4°F at 40 inches; a reading at or below 32°F lasted only a day or two.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Charlottesville 2 SSE

USCRN

In 5 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 37.4°F at 2 inches and 36.5°F at 4 inches.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

N Piedmont Arec

SCAN

In 5 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 31.5°F at 2 inches, 33.1°F at 4 inches, 34.2°F at 8 inches, 38.3°F at 20 inches and 43.3°F at 40 inches; a reading at or below 32°F lasted only a day or two.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Reynolds Homestead

SCAN

In 5 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 32.9°F at 2 inches, 33.6°F at 4 inches, 34.5°F at 8 inches, 37.4°F at 20 inches and 42.1°F at 40 inches.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Shenandoah

SCAN

Typically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.

2 in
2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 20 to Jan 28, a median of 8 frozen days.8 days
4 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 3 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

A winter runs July to June. Our station readings come from one grass-covered site per station at five fixed depths, and often show shallower frost than regional figures.

More on frost depth

Where the ground is frozen today across the US · Virginia soil temperature · First frost and frost depth guide