Frost Dates for 25962 — Rainelle, West Virginia

Half of springs at Rupert 4 N, WV see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 20. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 20 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 40% of the 84 West Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 10, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 160 days in a typical year, shorter than at 86% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 182 days one year in ten and falls short of 139 one year in ten. On average 136 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 13, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 25 and March 20.

July is the warmest month at Rupert 4 N, WV, averaging 77°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 57% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,335 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 95% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 34% of them (803) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 538. Precipitation totals 53.3 inches a year, most in May (5.6") and least in October (3.1"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Alderson, WV, 18 miles southeast of Rainelle and 1,767 feet lower, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 26), a first frost 6 days later (October 17), a season 13 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rainelle usually arrives around November 18, and the last of the season around April 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rupert 4 N, WV, 6.8 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 25962 is 7 miles from Rupert 4 N, WV, which stands at 3,319 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 25962 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.