Frost Dates for 24910 — Alderson, West Virginia

Half of springs at Alderson, WV see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 61% of the 84 West Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 17 in half of years, as early as October 5 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 173 days in a typical year, shorter than at 64% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 194 days one year in ten and falls short of 153 one year in ten. On average 127 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 12 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 6.

July is the warmest month at Alderson, WV, averaging 84°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 37% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,238 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 56% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,148) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 714. Precipitation totals 40.7 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in October (2.6"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Bluestone Lake, WV, 14 miles southwest of Alderson and 162 feet lower, has a last frost 16 days earlier (April 10), a first frost 13 days later (October 30), a season 27 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Alderson usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around March 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Alderson, WV, 0.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 64% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 24910 is under a mile from Alderson, WV, which stands at 1,552 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 24910 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.