Frost Dates for 26719 — Fort Ashby, West Virginia

Half of springs at Cumberland 2, MD see their last 32°F night by April 15; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 79% of the 84 West Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

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 6 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 17, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 190 days in a typical year, longer than at 81% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 210 days one year in ten and falls short of 169 one year in ten. On average 111 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 14 days longer, to about April 29, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 19 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Cumberland 2, MD, averaging 87°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 23°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 17% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,554 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 73% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,268) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 798. Precipitation totals 39.3 inches a year, most in May (4.2") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Romney 1 SW, WV, 11 miles south of Fort Ashby, has a last frost 11 days later (April 26), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 18), a season 18 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Fort Ashby usually arrives around December 15, and the last of the season around March 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cumberland 2, MD, 10 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 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26719 is 10 miles from Cumberland 2, MD, which stands at 730 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 21502 (Cumberland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26719 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.