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

Planting zone for 25276 — Spencer, WV

ZIP code 25276 (Spencer, Roane County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 25276 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 17
2012 zone6a

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

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Spencer, 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 Spencer, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Spencer, WV — 2 miles away, elevation 971 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 25276

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
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 30) 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 25276 came on Mar 8 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

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 6b in West Virginia

506 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

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 102

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 178

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 134

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 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Spencer, WV.

Soil in Spencer, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 25276 is Upshur — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Upshur-Gilpin silt loams, 15 to 25 percent slopes, severely eroded.

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 25276; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Spencer, WV

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days15days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights129nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,184base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall24 inper year; 24 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 30 °F 53°30° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.39 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 3.4❄9 JanFebruary: 3.20 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 3.2❄6 FebMarch: 4.29 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 4.3❄4 MarApril: 3.70 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.7 AprMay: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 5.33 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.12 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 3.65 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 3.6❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Spencer, WV (2 mi away); precipitation: Spencer, WV (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

252596b
Looneyville, WV · 9 mi
252706b
Reedy, WV · 10 mi
252346b
Arnoldsburg, WV · 11 mi
261516b
Mount Zion, WV · 11 mi
261416b
Creston, WV · 11 mi
252446b
Gay, WV · 11 mi
252436b
Gandeeville, WV · 12 mi
252686b
Orma, WV · 12 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 25276

What planting zone is ZIP code 25276?

ZIP code 25276 (Spencer, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Spencer, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 25276 is April 30; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spencer station.

When is the first frost in Spencer, WV?

The median first fall frost near 25276 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 169 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 25276?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 25276 get?

About 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 24 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Spencer station).

How hot do summers get in Spencer, WV?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 15 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 25276 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Upshur at the center of ZIP 25276: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Spencer, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 25276 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Spencer, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 25276 is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 25276 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 25276 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.