A middle-of-the-road climate: Colonial Forge is close to most U.S. towns on every count
January nights here settle around 26°. In July, afternoons here are warmer than in 69% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.8°, most of all in December. Seedlings are safe outdoors from about March 28, with the first autumn frost due around November 8.
A year in Colonial Forge at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Colonial Forge’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Colonial Forge’s place in Virginia beside it.
What a year in Colonial Forge feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 226 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 28 and the first by November 8. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Quantico Mcas, VA, 10 miles from the town’s center, 230 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Colonial Forge’s center in zone 7a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 4°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 11 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, falls mostly in February. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 43 inches a year; September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 113 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Colonial Forge
73% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through March.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Quantico Mcas, VA.
Living with Colonial Forge’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
226 frost-free days in zone 7a. The last frost comes by Mar 28 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 8.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, June, September and October. 1.3 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Colonial Forge from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (63%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 8%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Colonial Forge and its neighbors
Every town next door is within a degree of Colonial Forge in January and July, closer than the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Colonial Forge’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Forge, VA | 26° | 88° | 43" | 11" |
| Chester, IL | 24° | 88° | 44" | 12" |
| Concord, MO | 24° | 89° | 43" | 10" |
| Hurricane, WV | 25° | 87° | 44" | 11" |
| Lewisville, NC | 28° | 88° | 45" | 7.0" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Colonial Forge averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.7°).
A bigger shift than in 77% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Colonial Forge compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Colonial Forge’s place among Virginia’s.
Colonial Forge weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Colonial Forge’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Fredericksburg Sewage, VA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45° | 26° | 2.9" | 3.7" | 9 | 28° – 42° |
| February | 49° | 28° | 2.6" | 5.2" | 7 | 29° – 46° |
| March | 57° | 35° | 3.5" | 0.1" | 9 | 40° – 56° |
| April | 68° | 44° | 3.2" | 0.0" | 10 | 52° – 62° |
| May | 76° | 54° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 13 | 60° – 71° |
| June | 84° | 63° | 3.9" | 0.0" | 11 | 68° – 78° |
| July | 88° | 68° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 10 | 73° – 83° |
| August | 86° | 66° | 3.9" | 0.0" | 10 | 71° – 80° |
| September | 80° | 59° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 8 | 66° – 74° |
| October | 69° | 47° | 3.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 53° – 64° |
| November | 58° | 36° | 3.1" | 0.0" | 9 | 41° – 53° |
| December | 49° | 30° | 3.4" | 2.3" | 9 | 31° – 50° |
| Year | 67° | 46° | 42.5" | 11.3" | 113 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 31° to 50°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Colonial Forge’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Colonial Forge’s center.
- Snow: Fredericksburg Sewage, VA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Quantico Mcas, VA, 10 miles from the town’s center, 230 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Colonial Forge’s climate
What is the weather like in Colonial Forge?
A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 26°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Milder January nights than 66% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 69% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Colonial Forge in winter?
January nights average 26°. About 76 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 28°.
How much snow does Colonial Forge get?
About 11 inches in a normal winter at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, most of it in February.
How hot does it get in Colonial Forge?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 68°. About 30 days a year reach 90° (Quantico Mcas, VA).
When is the first and last frost in Colonial Forge?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 28 and the first fall frost by November 8, about 226 frost-free days, at Quantico Mcas, VA.
What growing zone is Colonial Forge in?
Zone 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 4°.
What is the best time of year to visit Colonial Forge?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April, May, June, September and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Colonial Forge getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.8° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 77% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Colonial Forge.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.