Frost Dates for 26456 — West Union, West Virginia

Half of springs at W Union 2, WV see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 16. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 16 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 40% 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 October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 176 days in a typical year, shorter than at 58% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 193 days one year in ten and falls short of 153 one year in ten. On average 132 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 9 days longer, to about May 7, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 8.

July is the warmest month at W Union 2, WV, averaging 85°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 21°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 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,326 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 35% of them (1,172) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 727. Precipitation totals 49.2 inches a year, most in July (5.7") and least in November (3.2"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Middlebourne 3 ESE, WV, 13 miles north of West Union, has a last frost 3 days later (May 1), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 15), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in West Union usually arrives around December 20, and the last of the season around March 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at W Union 2, WV, 0.5 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 50 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26456 is under a mile from W Union 2, WV, which stands at 806 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 26426 (Salem). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26456 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.