Frost Dates for 26416 — Philippi, West Virginia

Half of springs at Belington, WV see their last 32°F night by May 6; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 23. Planting tender crops after May 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 19 20%, and after May 23 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 13 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 15, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 159 days in a typical year, shorter than at 88% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 138 one year in ten. On average 144 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 10 days longer, to about May 16, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 27 and March 14.

July is the warmest month at Belington, WV, averaging 82°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 65% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,833 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 90% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 34% of them (972) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 649. Precipitation totals 51.7 inches a year, most in May (5.5") and least in November (3.3"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Tygart Dam, WV, 11 miles north of Philippi and 534 feet lower, has a last frost 10 days earlier (April 26), a first frost 9 days later (October 22), a season 19 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Philippi usually arrives around November 29, and the last of the season around March 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Philippi, WV, 1.1 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 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26416 is 10 miles from Belington, WV, which stands at 1,769 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 26416 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.