Frost Dates for 26542 — Masontown, West Virginia

Half of springs at Morgantown Hart Field, WV see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 7, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 14 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 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 182 days in a typical year, longer than at 63% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 205 days one year in ten and falls short of 159 one year in ten. On average 102 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 4, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 14 and March 6.

July is the warmest month at Morgantown Hart Field, WV, averaging 84°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 24°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 30% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,508 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,271) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 747. Precipitation totals 43.2 inches a year, most in July (4.9") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Morgantown L&D, WV, 10 miles northwest of Masontown and 415 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days later (April 26), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 23), a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Masontown usually arrives around December 22, and the last of the season around March 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lake Lynn, WV, 11.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 92% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 50 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26542 is 9 miles from Morgantown Hart Field, WV, which stands at 1,240 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 26508 (Morgantown). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26542 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.