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Will it freeze in Charleston in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Charleston during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 48°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 48°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear then Patchy Frost
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Charleston
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 5, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Charleston Yeager Airport. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | Apr 14 · Apr 29 · May 16 | Oct 5 · Oct 17 · Oct 28 | 169 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 1 · Apr 16 · May 5 | Oct 13 · Oct 26 · Nov 6 | 192 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 16 · Apr 1 · Apr 17 | Oct 24 · Nov 5 · Nov 19 | 217 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Charleston Yeager Airport
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Charleston, WV come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Charleston Yeager Airport (station USW00013866, elevation 910 ft), 3.1 mi from Charleston. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Charleston
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Charleston, WV | 4.3 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Dunbar, WV | 5.6 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| St. Albans, WV | 11 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
| Nitro, WV | 11 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
| Hurricane, WV | 22 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 30 |
| Oak Hill, WV | 37 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 19 |
| Huntington, WV | 43 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 30 |
| Beckley, WV | 47 mi | May 6 | Oct 10 |
| Ashland, KY | 55 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 23 |
| Ironton, OH | 58 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 23 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Charleston?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Charleston is around April 16. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 5, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 1.
When is the first frost in Charleston?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 26. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 13 and a 90% chance by November 6.
Can it frost in Charleston after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after April 29.
What growing zone is Charleston?
Charleston is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 25301. See growing zones in West Virginia.
More: all West Virginia frost dates · West Virginia growing zones · UV index today in Charleston · frost vs. freeze