Frost Dates for 26431 — Shinnston, West Virginia

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Fairmont, WV, 9 miles northeast of Shinnston, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 4 days later (October 28), a season 4 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Shinnston usually arrives around December 5, and the last of the season around March 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Fairmont, WV, 9.2 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 27 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26431 is 7 miles 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; its figures are presented in full for 26330 (Bridgeport). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26431 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.