Frost dates for Elkhorn, WV
At Elkhorn, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 24 and the median first fall frost is Oct 17, for a typical growing season of 175 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 24Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 17First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 175 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 21 | May 6 | May 26 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Apr 24 | May 14 |
| 28°F | Mar 26 | Apr 10 | Apr 30 |
| 24°F | Mar 11 | Mar 28 | Apr 10 |
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 29 | Oct 9 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | Oct 5 | Oct 17 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F | Oct 13 | Oct 26 | Nov 8 |
| 24°F | Oct 23 | Nov 5 | Nov 21 |
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 | 134 days | 154 days | 173 days |
| 32°F | 153 days | 175 days | 194 days |
| 28°F | 179 days | 198 days | 218 days |
| 24°F | 203 days | 223 days | 247 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24887 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 2 km |
| 24855 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 3 km |
| 24831 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 4 km |
| 24861 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 5 km |
| 24868 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 6 km |
| 24808 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 km |
| 24888 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 8 km |
| 24715 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 9 km |
| 24724 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 9 km |
| 24635 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 10 km |
| 24606 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 24871 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 24848 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 km |
| 24736 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 13 km |
| 24836 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 24853 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 24729 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 15 km |
| 24830 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 15 km |
| 24895 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 16 km |
| 24884 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 18 km |
| 24866 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 22 km |
| 24826 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 22 km |
| 24813 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 28 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 USC00462709, at 37.3872, -81.4053, elevation 594 m (1,948 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 17 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 120.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Bluefield Mercer Co Airport (20 km)
- Bluefield (22 km)
- Mullens 3 E (22 km)
- Pineville (24 km)
- Athens (34 km)
- Oceana 2 SE (37 km)
- Rd Bailey Lake (44 km)
- Beckley Va Hospital (46 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.