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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 26330 — Bridgeport, West Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Clarksburg Benedum Airport, WV (1,203 ft), under a mile east.

Updated

In Bridgeport, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 18 in half of years and has passed by May 9 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 24, as early as October 9 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 188 days (NOAA, Clarksburg Benedum Airport, WV).

Last spring frost
April 18

50% probability

First fall frost
October 24

50% probability

Growing season
188 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night

First snow
December 6

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 12

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

28 of 28 observed

Snow per year
23.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Bridgeport

Half of springs at Clarksburg Benedum Airport, WV see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 1, and one in ten still has one after May 9. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 9 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 89% of the 84 West Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 24 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 18, 21 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 188 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 209 days one year in ten and falls short of 165 one year in ten. On average 107 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 13 days longer, to about May 1, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 15 and March 3.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 17Apr 21Apr 24Apr 28May 1May 5May 9May 13May 19
32°FApr 1Apr 6Apr 11Apr 15Apr 18Apr 22Apr 26May 1May 9
28°FMar 20Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 3Apr 5Apr 9Apr 13Apr 18
24°FMar 6Mar 12Mar 16Mar 19Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 2Apr 6
20°FFeb 23Mar 2Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 16Mar 19Mar 23Mar 29
16°FFeb 10Feb 19Feb 24Feb 28Mar 3Mar 6Mar 10Mar 14Mar 19
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 1Oct 5Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 22Oct 27
32°FOct 9Oct 14Oct 18Oct 22Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 5
28°FOct 19Oct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 13Nov 19
24°FNov 1Nov 5Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 18Nov 22Nov 28Dec 4
20°FNov 11Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25Nov 29Dec 2Dec 7Dec 13Dec 21
16°FNov 23Nov 30Dec 4Dec 9Dec 15Dec 20Dec 24Dec 30Jan 7

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Clarksburg Benedum Airport, WV, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 26330 →Compare Bridgeport with another place →

Weather by month in Bridgeport

July is the warmest month at Clarksburg Benedum Airport, WV, averaging 86°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 25°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 88% of years and May still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,704 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,384) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 770. Precipitation totals 44.8 inches a year, most in July (5.4") and least in October (3.0"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Clarksburg Benedum Airport, WV
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan43253.3100%2415
Feb46273.1100%2217
Mar55333.6100%1764
Apr68433.988%5215
May76524.320%1433
Jun83604.50%0640
Jul86645.40%0770
Aug85633.60%0733
Sep79553.50%0516
Oct68443.075%3221
Nov56363.2100%1460
Dec47293.4100%2221

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Clarksburg Benedum Airport, WV (1,203 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Clarksburg 1, WV, 6 miles west of Bridgeport and 213 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days later (April 22), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 23), a season 7 days shorter.

Frost dates for 26301 (Clarksburg) →

When it snows in Bridgeport, West Virginia

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bridgeport usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Clarksburg 1, WV, 6.2 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 37 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 26330

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Bridgeport, West Virginia
WhenWhat to do
February 7 – February 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 21 – March 7Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 21 – April 4Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 18 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 1Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 10Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 24 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 26330 is under a mile from Clarksburg Benedum Airport, WV, which stands at 1,203 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26330 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.

Frost dates across West Virginia →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6b places in West Virginia