USDA Hardiness Zone 7a
Frost Dates for 25403 — Martinsburg, West Virginia
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Martinsburg 2, WV (460 ft), under a mile northwest.
Updated
In Martinsburg, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 17 in half of years and has passed by May 1 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 23, as early as October 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 187 days (NOAA, Martinsburg 2, WV).
- Last spring frost
- April 17
- First fall frost
- October 23
- Growing season
- 187 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
- December 13
- Last snow
- March 7
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
16 of 16 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Martinsburg
Half of springs at Martinsburg 2, WV see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by April 4, and one in ten still has one after May 1. Planting tender crops after April 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 27 20%, and after May 1 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 99% of the 84 West Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 187 days in a typical year, longer than at 75% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 206 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 119 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 April 29, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 16 and March 3.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 15 | Apr 20 | Apr 23 | Apr 27 | Apr 29 | May 1 | May 4 | May 8 | May 15 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Apr 9 | Apr 11 | Apr 14 | Apr 17 | Apr 19 | Apr 23 | Apr 27 | May 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 24 | Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Apr 2 | Apr 5 | Apr 7 | Apr 10 | Apr 13 | Apr 17 |
| 24°F | Mar 10 | Mar 16 | Mar 19 | Mar 22 | Mar 25 | Mar 29 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 7 |
| 20°F | Feb 27 | Mar 2 | Mar 7 | Mar 10 | Mar 14 | Mar 17 | Mar 20 | Mar 23 | Mar 29 |
| 16°F | Feb 11 | Feb 18 | Feb 25 | Feb 28 | Mar 3 | Mar 6 | Mar 10 | Mar 15 | Mar 19 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 29 | Oct 3 | Oct 6 | Oct 9 | Oct 12 | Oct 14 | Oct 17 | Oct 20 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | Oct 8 | Oct 13 | Oct 17 | Oct 20 | Oct 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 19 | Oct 24 | Oct 28 | Oct 31 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 15 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 14 | Nov 17 | Nov 20 | Nov 25 | Dec 1 |
| 20°F | Nov 11 | Nov 16 | Nov 21 | Nov 24 | Nov 29 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 11 | Dec 19 |
| 16°F | Nov 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 6 | Dec 11 | Dec 16 | Dec 21 | Dec 25 | Dec 30 | Jan 9 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Martinsburg 2, 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 25403 →Compare Martinsburg with another place →
Weather by month in Martinsburg
July is the warmest month at Martinsburg 2, WV, averaging 87°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°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 11% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 3,520 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 69% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,237) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 795. Precipitation totals 41.4 inches a year, most in May (4.2") and least in February (2.6"); May to September bring 46% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42 | 23 | 2.8 | 100% | 26 | 4 |
| Feb | 45 | 24 | 2.6 | 100% | 24 | 5 |
| Mar | 54 | 30 | 3.7 | 100% | 19 | 34 |
| Apr | 66 | 40 | 3.6 | 94% | 5 | 149 |
| May | 75 | 51 | 4.2 | 11% | <1 | 405 |
| Jun | 83 | 60 | 3.5 | 0% | 0 | 639 |
| Jul | 87 | 64 | 4.1 | 0% | 0 | 795 |
| Aug | 86 | 62 | 3.0 | 0% | 0 | 738 |
| Sep | 79 | 54 | 4.2 | 0% | 0 | 505 |
| Oct | 67 | 43 | 3.4 | 78% | 4 | 201 |
| Nov | 56 | 33 | 3.0 | 100% | 17 | 37 |
| Dec | 45 | 27 | 3.3 | 100% | 24 | 7 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Martinsburg 2, WV (460 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, Martinsburg E Wv Regional Airport, WV, 4 miles south of Martinsburg, has a last frost 3 days later (April 20), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 22), a season 4 days shorter.
When it snows in Martinsburg, West Virginia
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Martinsburg usually arrives around December 13, and the last of the season around March 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Sharpsburg 5 S, MD, 13.4 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 41 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 25403
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 6 – February 20 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 20 – March 6 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 20 – April 3 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 17 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by July 31 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 9 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| October 23 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 25403 is under a mile from Martinsburg 2, WV, which stands at 460 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 25404 (Martinsburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 25403 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.