Frost Dates for 26807 — Franklin, West Virginia

Half of springs at Franklin 2 NE, WV see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 18 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 11 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 7, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 162 days in a typical year, shorter than at 83% of the 84 West Virginia stations; it reaches 185 days one year in ten and falls short of 140 one year in ten. On average 124 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 12 days longer, to about May 12, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 8.

July is the warmest month at Franklin 2 NE, WV, averaging 84°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,041 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 74% of the 84 West Virginia stations. 36% of them (1,082) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 676. Precipitation totals 38.5 inches a year, most in July (4.8") and least in February (2.1"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Dale Enterprise, VA, 26 miles southeast of Franklin and 542 feet lower, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 12 days later (October 23), a season 20 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Franklin usually arrives around December 15, and the last of the season around March 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Franklin 2 NE, WV, 2.1 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 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 26807 is 2 miles from Franklin 2 NE, WV, which stands at 1,900 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 26807 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.