Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 24868 — Northfork, WV

ZIP code 24868 (Northfork, McDowell County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 24868 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 24
First frostOct 17
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — a full zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Northfork, WV…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Northfork, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Elkhorn, WV — 4 miles away, elevation 1,949 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 24868

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 17) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 24868 came on Mar 8 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 7a in West Virginia

515 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 69

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 103

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 181

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 137

arctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbitter panicgrass5 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Vines 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Northfork, WV.

Soil in Northfork, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 24868 is Pineville — channery slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureChannery slightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pineville-Berks association, 35 to 80 percent slopes, rocky, extremely stony.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 24868; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Northfork, WV

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights120nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,081base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 39 °F 66°39° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 JanFebruary: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 MarApril: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 AprMay: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 5.53 in precipitation 5.5 JulAugust: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elkhorn, WV (4 mi away); precipitation: Mullens 3 E, WV (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

248557a
Kyle, WV · 3 mi
248877a
Switchback, WV · 4 mi
247197a
Covel, WV · 5 mi
248317a
Elkhorn, WV · 5 mi
248617a
Maybeury, WV · 6 mi
247366b
Matoaka, WV · 6 mi
247267a
Herndon, WV · 6 mi
247167a
Bud, WV · 7 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 24868

What planting zone is ZIP code 24868?

ZIP code 24868 (Northfork, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Northfork, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 24868 is April 24; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elkhorn station.

When is the first frost in Northfork, WV?

The median first fall frost near 24868 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 24868?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 24868 get?

About 48.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mullens 3 E station).

How hot do summers get in Northfork, WV?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 24868 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pineville at the center of ZIP 24868: channery slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Northfork, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 24868 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Northfork, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 24868 is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 24868 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 24868 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.