Frost dates for Athens, WV
At Athens, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 30 and the median first fall frost is Oct 10, for a typical growing season of 161 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 10First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 161 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 24 | May 9 | May 26 |
| 32°F | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | May 19 |
| 28°F | Apr 3 | Apr 16 | May 11 |
| 24°F | Mar 21 | Apr 4 | Apr 25 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 20 | Oct 3 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | Sep 27 | Oct 10 | Oct 22 |
| 28°F | Oct 4 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 24°F | Oct 12 | Oct 30 | Nov 15 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 125 days | 144 days | 163 days |
| 32°F | 140 days | 161 days | 182 days |
| 28°F | 157 days | 182 days | 205 days |
| 24°F | 181 days | 206 days | 231 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24739 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 6 km |
| 24712 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 6 km |
| 25971 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 24740 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 km |
| 25922 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 9 km |
| 24731 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 25979 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 14 km |
| 24714 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 14 km |
| 24093 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 14 km |
| 24733 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 16 km |
| 25820 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 16 km |
| 25841 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 16 km |
| 24147 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 18 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00460355, at 37.4225, -81.0256, elevation 760 m (2,495 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 11 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 125.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Bluefield Mercer Co Airport (21 km)
- Bluefield (26 km)
- Bluestone Lake (27 km)
- Mullens 3 E (32 km)
- Elkhorn (34 km)
- Beckley Va Hospital (41 km)
- Beckley Raleigh Co Airport (41 km)
- Union 3 SSE (45 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.