Frost Dates for 43906 — Bellaire, Ohio

Half of springs at Wheeling, WV see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 53% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 29 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 192 days in a typical year, longer than at 86% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 211 days one year in ten and falls short of 170 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 10 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 17 and March 5.

July is the warmest month at Wheeling, WV, averaging 85°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 22°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 19% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,443 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 148 Ohio stations. 34% of them (1,181) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 756. Precipitation totals 41.9 inches a year, most in June (4.3") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Moundsville, WV, 8 miles south of Bellaire, has a last frost 6 days later (April 26), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 21), a season 15 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bellaire usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around March 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wheeling, WV, 3.4 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 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 43906 is 3 miles from Wheeling, WV, which stands at 645 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 26003 (Wheeling). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 43906 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.