Frost Dates for 26070 — Wellsburg, West Virginia

Half of springs at Wheeling Ohio Co Airport, WV see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower 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 25 in half of years, as early as October 10 one year in ten, and holds off past November 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 25, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 185 days in a typical year, longer than at 69% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 206 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 108 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 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 11 and March 9.

July is the warmest month at Wheeling Ohio Co Airport, WV, averaging 83°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°F and 22°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 3,229 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,142) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 716. Precipitation totals 37.6 inches a year, most in June (4.1") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Steubenville, OH, 8 miles north of Wellsburg and 187 feet lower, has a last frost 6 days later (April 29), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 20), a season 10 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Wellsburg usually arrives around December 12, and the last of the season around March 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV, 9.9 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 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26070 is 7 miles from Wheeling Ohio Co Airport, WV, which stands at 1,179 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26070 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.