Frost Dates for 26101 — Parkersburg, West Virginia

Half of springs at Parkersburg, WV see their last 32°F night by April 14; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after May 2. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 25 20%, and after May 2 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 30 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 197 days in a typical year, longer than at 92% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 218 days one year in ten and falls short of 174 one year in ten. On average 105 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 26, and return around October 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 23 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Parkersburg, WV, averaging 87°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 24°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 87% of years and May still brings one in 13% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,824 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 89% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,385) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 814. Precipitation totals 44.2 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in November (2.8"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Parkersburg Wood Co Airport, WV, 8 miles northeast of Parkersburg and 211 feet higher, has a last frost 9 days later (April 23), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 22), a season 17 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Parkersburg usually arrives around December 25, and the last of the season around February 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Parkersburg, WV, 1.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 50 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26101 is 2 miles from Parkersburg, WV, which stands at 620 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 10 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26101 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.