USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Frost Dates for 25306 — Charleston, West Virginia
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Charleston Yeager Airport, WV (910 ft), 6 miles northwest.
Updated
In Charleston, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 16 in half of years and has passed by May 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 26, as early as October 13 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 192 days (NOAA, Charleston Yeager Airport, WV).
- Last spring frost
- April 16
- First fall frost
- October 26
- Growing season
- 192 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 23
- Last snow
- March 28
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- 31.5"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
30 of 30 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Charleston
Half of springs at Charleston Yeager Airport, WV see their last 32°F night by April 16; only one in ten is past it by April 1, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 5 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 26 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 192 days in a typical year, longer than at 83% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 211 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 94 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 April 29, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 17 and February 26.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 14 | Apr 18 | Apr 21 | Apr 25 | Apr 29 | May 2 | May 6 | May 10 | May 16 |
| 32°F | Apr 1 | Apr 5 | Apr 9 | Apr 12 | Apr 16 | Apr 19 | Apr 23 | Apr 28 | May 5 |
| 28°F | Mar 16 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 30 | Apr 1 | Apr 4 | Apr 7 | Apr 11 | Apr 17 |
| 24°F | Feb 28 | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 20 | Mar 24 | Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Apr 5 |
| 20°F | Feb 13 | Feb 23 | Feb 28 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Mar 12 | Mar 15 | Mar 20 | Mar 25 |
| 16°F | Jan 31 | Feb 7 | Feb 14 | Feb 21 | Feb 26 | Mar 1 | Mar 5 | Mar 10 | Mar 16 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 5 | Oct 9 | Oct 12 | Oct 15 | Oct 17 | Oct 20 | Oct 22 | Oct 25 | Oct 28 |
| 32°F | Oct 13 | Oct 17 | Oct 21 | Oct 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 29 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Oct 24 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 14 | Nov 19 |
| 24°F | Nov 2 | Nov 7 | Nov 11 | Nov 13 | Nov 17 | Nov 21 | Nov 25 | Nov 30 | Dec 5 |
| 20°F | Nov 12 | Nov 17 | Nov 23 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 10 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 |
| 16°F | Nov 25 | Dec 1 | Dec 7 | Dec 11 | Dec 17 | Dec 22 | Dec 27 | Jan 1 | Jan 10 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Charleston Yeager Airport, 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 25306 →Compare Charleston with another place →
Weather by month in Charleston
July is the warmest month at Charleston Yeager Airport, WV, averaging 86°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 88% of years and May still brings one in 17% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 3,950 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 93% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 38% of them (1,496) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 798. Precipitation totals 46.4 inches a year, most in July (5.4") and least in October (2.9"); May to September bring 48% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44 | 26 | 3.3 | 100% | 23 | 16 |
| Feb | 48 | 29 | 3.4 | 100% | 19 | 20 |
| Mar | 57 | 35 | 4.1 | 100% | 14 | 82 |
| Apr | 69 | 45 | 3.6 | 88% | 4 | 250 |
| May | 76 | 53 | 4.9 | 17% | <1 | 458 |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 4.7 | 0% | 0 | 669 |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 5.4 | 0% | 0 | 798 |
| Aug | 85 | 64 | 3.8 | 0% | 0 | 764 |
| Sep | 80 | 57 | 3.5 | 0% | 0 | 549 |
| Oct | 69 | 45 | 2.9 | 71% | 2 | 248 |
| Nov | 57 | 36 | 3.2 | 100% | 13 | 71 |
| Dec | 48 | 30 | 3.6 | 100% | 20 | 24 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Charleston Yeager Airport, WV (910 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 WFO, WV, 10 miles west of Charleston, has a last frost 7 days later (April 23), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 20), a season 12 days shorter.
When it snows in Charleston, West Virginia
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Charleston usually arrives around November 23, and the last of the season around March 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Charleston Yeager Airport, WV, 5.7 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.
Planting calendar for 25306
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 5 – February 19 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 19 – March 5 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 19 – April 2 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 16 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 3 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 12 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| October 26 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 25306 is 6 miles from Charleston Yeager Airport, WV, which stands at 910 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 25302 (Charleston). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 25306 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.