Frost Dates for 26218 — French Creek, West Virginia

Half of springs at Rock Cave 2 NE, WV see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider 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 21 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 197 days one year in ten and falls short of 153 one year in ten. On average 118 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 7, and return around October 10. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Rock Cave 2 NE, WV, averaging 80°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°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 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,009 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 76% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,101) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 652. Precipitation totals 56.7 inches a year, most in July (6.1") and least in September (3.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Buckhannon, WV, 9 miles north of French Creek and 294 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days later (April 29), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 20), a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in French Creek usually arrives around November 20, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rock Cave 2 NE, WV, 1.6 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 20 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26218 is 2 miles from Rock Cave 2 NE, WV, which stands at 1,749 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26218 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.