Frost Dates for 24701 — Bluefield, West Virginia

Half of springs at Bluefield Mercer Co Airport, WV see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 11. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 11 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 79% of the 84 West Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 22 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 182 days in a typical year, longer than at 63% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 203 days one year in ten and falls short of 160 one year in ten. On average 92 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 13 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at Bluefield Mercer Co Airport, WV, averaging 79°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,973 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 80% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,088) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 631. Precipitation totals 41.1 inches a year, most in May (4.6") and least in November (2.6"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Bluefield, WV, 2 miles southwest of Bluefield, has a last frost 9 days later (April 30), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 15), a season 14 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bluefield usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bluefield Mercer Co Airport, WV, 1.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 19 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24701 is 1 mile from Bluefield Mercer Co Airport, WV, which stands at 2,870 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 24701 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.