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

Planting zone for 26263 — Dryfork, WV

ZIP code 26263 (Dryfork, Randolph County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 26263 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 7
First frostOct 7
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Dryfork, 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 Dryfork, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Elkins 21 Ene, WV — 4 miles away, elevation 3,389 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 26263

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 26263 came on Mar 21 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 6a in West Virginia

502 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 177

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 133

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 9

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 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Dryfork, WV.

Soil in Dryfork, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26263 is Calvin — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Calvin stony silt loam, high base substratum, 25 to 35 percent slopes.

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 26263; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dryfork, WV

Summer high74 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights136nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,946base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation56.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 46 °F 64°46° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° JunJuly: average high 74 °F, low 56 °F 74°56° JulAugust: average high 73 °F, low 55 °F 73°55° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 49 °F 68°49° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 24 °F 38°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JanFebruary: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 FebMarch: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 5.12 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 5.77 in precipitation 5.8 MayJune: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 5.72 in precipitation 5.7 JulAugust: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 SepOctober: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 NovDecember: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elkins 21 Ene, WV (4 mi away); precipitation: Elkins 21 Ene, WV (4 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.

268866a
Onego, WV · 4 mi
262896a
Red Creek, WV · 5 mi
262716a
Hendricks, WV · 6 mi
268846a
Seneca Rocks, WV · 8 mi
262606a
Davis, WV · 9 mi
262546a
Bowden, WV · 10 mi
268557a
Cabins, WV · 12 mi
268146a
Riverton, WV · 12 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26263

What planting zone is ZIP code 26263?

ZIP code 26263 (Dryfork, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Dryfork, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26263 is May 7; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elkins 21 Ene station.

When is the first frost in Dryfork, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26263 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26263?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26263 get?

About 56.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elkins 21 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Dryfork, WV?

The average high peaks at 74 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26263 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Calvin at the center of ZIP 26263: channery silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Dryfork, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26263 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dryfork, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26263 is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 26263 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 26263 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.