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

Planting zone for 26292 — Thomas, WV

ZIP code 26292 (Thomas, Tucker County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 26292 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 9
First frostOct 10
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 Thomas, 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 Thomas, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Davis 3se, WV — 6 miles away, elevation 3,714 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 26292

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 26292 came on Mar 21 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Thomas, WV.

Soil in Thomas, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 26292 is Brinkerton — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter17%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Brinkerton-Lickdale association, 0 to 15 percent slopes, very rubbly.

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 26292; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Thomas, WV

Summer high75 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights142nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,982base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation63.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall170 inper year; 101 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 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 18 °F 35°18° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 45 °F 64°45° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° JunJuly: average high 75 °F, low 57 °F 75°57° JulAugust: average high 74 °F, low 55 °F 74°55° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 50 °F 68°50° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 6.20 in precipitation, 45 in snowfall 6.2❄45 JanFebruary: 5.28 in precipitation, 43.1 in snowfall 5.3❄43 FebMarch: 5.90 in precipitation, 26 in snowfall 5.9❄26 MarApril: 5.31 in precipitation, 10.6 in snowfall 5.3❄11 AprMay: 5.70 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 5.7❄1 MayJune: 6.21 in precipitation 6.2 JunJuly: 6.27 in precipitation 6.3 JulAugust: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.07 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 4.09 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 4.1❄6 OctNovember: 4.12 in precipitation, 11.2 in snowfall 4.1❄11 NovDecember: 5.52 in precipitation, 28.3 in snowfall 5.5❄28 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Davis 3se, WV (6 mi away); precipitation: Davis 3se, WV (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

262696a
Hambleton, WV · 7 mi
267166a
Eglon, WV · 8 mi
262606a
Davis, WV · 8 mi
262716a
Hendricks, WV · 8 mi
267076a
Bayard, WV · 8 mi
262876a
Parsons, WV · 8 mi
262896a
Red Creek, WV · 11 mi
267056a
Aurora, WV · 13 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 26292

What planting zone is ZIP code 26292?

ZIP code 26292 (Thomas, 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 Thomas, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 26292 is May 9; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Davis 3se station.

When is the first frost in Thomas, WV?

The median first fall frost near 26292 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 26292?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 26292 get?

About 63.2 inches of precipitation a year and 170 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Davis 3se station).

How hot do summers get in Thomas, WV?

The average high peaks at 75 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 26292 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Brinkerton at the center of ZIP 26292: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Thomas, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 26292 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Thomas, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 26292 is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 26292 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 26292 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.