U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00466325 · West Virginia

Frost Dates for Mullens, WV

NOAA weather station Mullens 3 E (USC00466325), West Virginia · elevation 1564 ft (477 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 10only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2450% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2050% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season178 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Mullens, WVSpring: a frost after April 12 in 9 years out of 10, after April 24 in half of the years, after May 10 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 7 in 1 year out of 10, before October 20 in half of the years, before November 2 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 178 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 24First frost ~Oct 20Frost season at Mullens, WVSpring: a frost after April 12 in 9 years out of 10, after April 24 in half of the years, after May 10 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 7 in 1 year out of 10, before October 20 in half of the years, before November 2 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 178 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 24First frost ~Oct 20
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 10October 7
50% (typical)April 24October 20
90% (likely)April 12November 2
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
178 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 12
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 30

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 23 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 23 (3 days later). Frost-free season 181 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Mullens: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 10, 20% May 5, 30% April 30, 40% April 27, 50% April 24, 60% April 21, 70% April 18, 80% April 16, 90% April 12. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 24, 2022 April 21, 2023 April 27, 2024 April 23, 2025 April 17, 2026 May 9.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 10Apr 24Apr 122021: April 242022: April 212023: April 272024: April 232025: April 172026: May 9Fall at Mullens: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 7, 20% October 11, 30% October 14, 40% October 17, 50% October 20, 60% October 24, 70% October 27, 80% October 29, 90% November 2. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 4, 2023 October 24, 2024 October 17, 2025 October 23.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 7Oct 20Nov 22021: November 42023: October 242024: October 172025: October 23
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 24November 4
2022April 21incomplete record
2023April 27October 24
2024April 23October 17
2025April 17October 23
2026May 9season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date, April 12, carries a 90 % chance of frost later than this date, so it is a gamble for Mullens growers. The cautious alternative is the May 10 date, which has only a 10 % chance of a frost later than it, offering a lower-risk window for planting.

The 50% date is April 24, marking a 50 % chance of a frost later than this date, while the 50% date is October 20, marking a 50 % chance of a frost earlier than this date. For finishing tender crops in autumn, the cautious date is October 7, with only a 10 % chance that frost has arrived earlier. The hard-frost 50% dates are April 12 and October 30; a hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 10" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 7" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Mullens, WVNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Pineville, WV — 11 mi; 2 — Beckley Va Hospital, WV — 15 mi; 3 — Beckley, WV — 18 mi; 4 — Burkes Garden, VA — 34 mi; 5 — Pearisburg, VA — 41 mi.VAKY25 mi · 40 km1. Pineville, WV — 11 mi12. Beckley Va Hospital, WV — 15 mi23. Beckley, WV — 18 mi34. Burkes Garden, VA — 34 mi45. Pearisburg, VA — 41 mi5
  1. Pineville, WV 11 mi (18 km)
  2. Beckley Va Hospital, WV 15 mi (24 km)
  3. Beckley, WV 18 mi (29 km)
  4. Burkes Garden, VA 34 mi (54 km)
  5. Pearisburg, VA 41 mi (65 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 37.5783, -81.3272.