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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 43917 — Dillonvale, Ohio

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV (640 ft), 6 miles southeast.

Updated

In Dillonvale, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 18 in half of years and has passed by May 6 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 1, as early as October 18 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 196 days (NOAA, Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV).

Last spring frost
April 18

50% probability

First fall frost
November 1

50% probability

Growing season
196 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night

First snow
December 12

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 12

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
15.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Dillonvale

Half of springs at Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 4, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 29 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 76% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 18 one year in ten, and holds off past November 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 20, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 196 days in a typical year, longer than at 93% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 214 days one year in ten and falls short of 174 one year in ten. On average 107 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 April 29, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 19 and March 5.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 17Apr 21Apr 23Apr 26Apr 29May 1May 6May 10May 17
32°FApr 4Apr 9Apr 13Apr 16Apr 18Apr 21Apr 24Apr 29May 6
28°FMar 23Mar 28Mar 31Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 16Apr 20
24°FMar 10Mar 16Mar 20Mar 24Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 3Apr 7
20°FFeb 28Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 16Mar 19Mar 23Mar 26Mar 31
16°FFeb 13Feb 21Feb 28Mar 2Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 16Mar 22
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 8Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 21Oct 23Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1
32°FOct 18Oct 23Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 9Nov 13
28°FOct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 8Nov 10Nov 13Nov 16Nov 19Nov 25
24°FNov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 21Nov 25Nov 29Dec 2Dec 9
20°FNov 17Nov 22Nov 27Dec 1Dec 3Dec 7Dec 13Dec 19Dec 25
16°FNov 29Dec 4Dec 10Dec 15Dec 19Dec 23Dec 27Dec 31Jan 7

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 43917 →Compare Dillonvale with another place →

Weather by month in Dillonvale

July is the warmest month at Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV, averaging 83°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°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 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,274 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 57% of the 148 Ohio stations. 34% of them (1,104) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 736. Precipitation totals 41.3 inches a year, most in June (4.5") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan37223.2100%253
Feb40232.5100%233
Mar49303.4100%1929
Apr62403.594%5128
May72504.015%<1353
Jun80604.50%0588
Jul83643.70%0736
Aug82633.90%0704
Sep76573.70%0496
Oct65452.846%1191
Nov52352.9100%1237
Dec42283.2100%227

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV (640 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Wheeling Ohio Co Airport, WV, 7 miles east of Dillonvale and 539 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days later (April 23), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 25), a season 11 days shorter.

Frost dates for 26070 (Wellsburg) →

When it snows in Dillonvale, Ohio

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Dillonvale usually arrives around December 12, and the last of the season around March 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV, 6.1 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 37 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 43917

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Dillonvale, Ohio
WhenWhat to do
February 7 – February 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 21 – March 7Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 21 – April 4Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 18 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 9Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 18Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 1 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 43917 is 6 miles from Pike Island(Lock & Dam), WV, which stands at 640 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 43943 (Rayland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 43917 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.

Frost dates across Ohio →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6b places in Ohio