Oakley · Photo: Wikipelli · CC BY-SA 3.0A middle-of-the-road climate: Lake Wilderness is close to most U.S. towns on every count
High summer brings afternoon highs near 88°. In July, afternoons here are warmer than in 67% of U.S. towns. December has warmed most since 1901–2000, part of a 1.5° rise. Central heating does most of its work from November to March, in months below 50° on average.
A year in Lake Wilderness at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Lake Wilderness’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Lake Wilderness’ place in Virginia beside it.
What a year in Lake Wilderness feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 207 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 6 and the first by November 1. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, 15 miles from the town’s center, 280 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Lake Wilderness’ center in zone 7a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 5°. 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 44 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 Lake Wilderness
76% 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 Fredericksburg Sewage, VA.
Living with Lake Wilderness’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
207 frost-free days in zone 7a. The last frost comes by Apr 6 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 1.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, June, September and October. 2.3 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Lake Wilderness from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (44%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 14%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Lake Wilderness and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Lake Wilderness yet.
Climates most like Lake Wilderness’, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wilderness, VA | 25° | 88° | 44" | 11" |
| Chester, IL | 24° | 88° | 44" | 12" |
| Hurricane, WV | 25° | 87° | 44" | 11" |
| Sunset Hills, MO | 23° | 88° | 43" | 10" |
| Millville, NJ | 25° | 87° | 46" | 12" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Lake Wilderness averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.7°).
A bigger shift than in 62% 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 Lake Wilderness compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Lake Wilderness’ place among Virginia’s.
Lake Wilderness weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Lake Wilderness’ 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° | 25° | 3.1" | 3.7" | 9 | 27° – 42° |
| February | 49° | 27° | 2.7" | 5.2" | 7 | 28° – 46° |
| March | 57° | 33° | 3.6" | 0.1" | 9 | 40° – 55° |
| April | 68° | 43° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 10 | 51° – 61° |
| May | 76° | 52° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 13 | 60° – 70° |
| June | 84° | 61° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 11 | 68° – 77° |
| July | 88° | 66° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 10 | 73° – 82° |
| August | 86° | 64° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 10 | 70° – 78° |
| September | 79° | 57° | 4.4" | 0.0" | 8 | 65° – 73° |
| October | 69° | 45° | 3.6" | 0.0" | 9 | 52° – 63° |
| November | 58° | 35° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 9 | 40° – 51° |
| December | 48° | 28° | 3.4" | 2.3" | 9 | 30° – 49° |
| Year | 67° | 45° | 43.9" | 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 30° to 49°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Lake Wilderness’ 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 Lake Wilderness’ center.
- Snow: Fredericksburg Sewage, VA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, 15 miles from the town’s center, 280 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 Lake Wilderness’ climate
What is the weather like in Lake Wilderness?
A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Milder January nights than 62% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 67% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Lake Wilderness in winter?
January nights average 25°. About 101 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 27°.
How much snow does Lake Wilderness get?
About 11 inches in a normal winter at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA, most of it in February.
How hot does it get in Lake Wilderness?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 66°. About 41 days a year reach 90° and 1 reach 100° (Fredericksburg Sewage, VA).
When is the first and last frost in Lake Wilderness?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 6 and the first fall frost by November 1, about 207 frost-free days, at Fredericksburg Sewage, VA.
What growing zone is Lake Wilderness in?
Zone 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 5°.
What is the best time of year to visit Lake Wilderness?
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 Lake Wilderness getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.5° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 62% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Lake Wilderness.
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.