USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Frost Dates for 25303 — South Charleston, West Virginia
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Charleston WFO, WV (918 ft), 4 miles southwest.
Updated
In South Charleston, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 23 in half of years and has passed by May 13 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 20, as early as October 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 180 days (NOAA, Charleston WFO, WV).
- Last spring frost
- April 23
- First fall frost
- October 20
- Growing season
- 180 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night
- First snow
- November 27
- Last snow
- March 28
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
24 of 24 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in South Charleston
Half of springs at Charleston WFO, WV see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 13 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 20 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 180 days in a typical year, longer than at 52% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 198 days one year in ten and falls short of 157 one year in ten. On average 116 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 May 4, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 6.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 20 | Apr 24 | Apr 28 | May 1 | May 4 | May 7 | May 11 | May 16 | May 22 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Apr 14 | Apr 17 | Apr 20 | Apr 23 | Apr 27 | Apr 30 | May 5 | May 13 |
| 28°F | Mar 28 | Apr 1 | Apr 5 | Apr 7 | Apr 10 | Apr 13 | Apr 16 | Apr 21 | Apr 29 |
| 24°F | Mar 12 | Mar 19 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 31 | Apr 1 | Apr 4 | Apr 8 | Apr 13 |
| 20°F | Feb 25 | Mar 5 | Mar 11 | Mar 15 | Mar 19 | Mar 22 | Mar 25 | Mar 29 | Apr 2 |
| 16°F | Feb 8 | Feb 18 | Feb 26 | Mar 1 | Mar 6 | Mar 10 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 24 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 30 | Oct 3 | Oct 6 | Oct 9 | Oct 11 | Oct 13 | Oct 15 | Oct 18 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | Oct 8 | Oct 12 | Oct 15 | Oct 18 | Oct 20 | Oct 22 | Oct 25 | Oct 28 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Oct 17 | Oct 21 | Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 6 | Nov 12 |
| 24°F | Oct 27 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 6 | Nov 10 | Nov 12 | Nov 15 | Nov 19 | Nov 26 |
| 20°F | Nov 5 | Nov 10 | Nov 14 | Nov 17 | Nov 21 | Nov 26 | Nov 30 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 |
| 16°F | Nov 14 | Nov 21 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 8 | Dec 13 | Dec 21 | Dec 29 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Charleston WFO, WV, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.
Frost risk on any date in 25303 →Compare South Charleston with another place →
Weather by month in South Charleston
July is the warmest month at Charleston WFO, WV, averaging 86°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 23°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 3,656 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 79% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,359) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 767. Precipitation totals 48.2 inches a year, most in July (5.8") and least in October (3.1"); May to September bring 47% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43 | 23 | 3.5 | 100% | 25 | 13 |
| Feb | 46 | 25 | 3.3 | 100% | 22 | 15 |
| Mar | 56 | 31 | 4.4 | 100% | 19 | 61 |
| Apr | 68 | 41 | 4.1 | 98% | 6 | 208 |
| May | 76 | 51 | 5.2 | 29% | 1 | 424 |
| Jun | 83 | 60 | 4.4 | 0% | 0 | 637 |
| Jul | 86 | 64 | 5.8 | 0% | 0 | 767 |
| Aug | 85 | 62 | 3.7 | 0% | 0 | 727 |
| Sep | 80 | 55 | 3.5 | 1% | 0 | 514 |
| Oct | 68 | 42 | 3.1 | 89% | 5 | 215 |
| Nov | 57 | 32 | 3.1 | 100% | 17 | 54 |
| Dec | 47 | 27 | 4.1 | 100% | 23 | 20 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Charleston WFO, WV (918 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.
Compared with the next station
The nearest other station, Charleston Yeager Airport, WV, 5 miles east of South Charleston, has a last frost 7 days earlier (April 16), a first frost 6 days later (October 26), a season 12 days longer.
When it snows in South Charleston, West Virginia
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in South Charleston usually arrives around November 27, and the last of the season around March 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Charleston WFO, WV, 3.8 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 26 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 25303
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 12 – February 26 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 26 – March 12 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 26 – April 9 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 23 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by July 28 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 6 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| October 20 onward | Plant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter. |
The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.
Where these figures come from
ZIP 25303 is 4 miles from Charleston WFO, WV, which stands at 918 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 25314 (Charleston). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 25303 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.
Frost dates across West Virginia →
Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.
Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.