Frost Dates for 25159 — Poca, West Virginia

Half of springs at Winfield Locks, WV see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 9. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 9 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 89% of the 84 West Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 30 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 193 days in a typical year, longer than at 89% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 214 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 101 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 11 days longer, to about April 29, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 19 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Winfield Locks, WV, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°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 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,855 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,392) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 800. Precipitation totals 39.5 inches a year, most in July (4.3") and least in November (2.6"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Saint Albans, WV, 8 miles south of Poca, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 4 days earlier (October 26), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Poca usually arrives around January 2, and the last of the season around February 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Winfield Locks, WV, 7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 95% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 25159 is 7 miles from Winfield Locks, WV, which stands at 621 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 25526 (Hurricane). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 25159 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.