Frost Dates for 43943 — Rayland, Ohio

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Wheeling Ohio Co Airport, WV, 5 miles southeast of Rayland 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.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rayland 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, 4.6 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.

ZIP 43943 is 5 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. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 43943 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.