Frost Dates for 26205 — Craigsville, West Virginia

Half of springs at Richwood 1SSE, WV see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 17 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 18 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 7, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 171 days in a typical year, shorter than at 73% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 194 days one year in ten and falls short of 147 one year in ten. On average 122 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 8 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 16.

July is the warmest month at Richwood 1SSE, WV, averaging 78°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 20°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 46% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,635 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 93% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 34% of them (905) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 581. Precipitation totals 56.0 inches a year, most in July (6.0") and least in October (3.6"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Summersville Lake, WV, 15 miles southwest of Craigsville and 1,322 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 27), a first frost 1 day later (October 19), a season 2 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Craigsville usually arrives around November 14, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Richwood 1SSE, WV, 11 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 24 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26205 is 11 miles from Richwood 1SSE, WV, which stands at 3,090 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 26261 (Richwood). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26205 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.