Frostline.info

Frost line depth in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Frost reaches about 33 inches in typical soil across Westmoreland County, from 30″ in the mildest ZIP code to 36″ in the coldest. Codes in this climate commonly set footing depth at 30 to 42 inches.

Deep frost
Estimated frost depth
33″
typical silt/loam soil
Typical code footing depth
30–42″
rule of thumb for this climate
Design freezing index
1,154
°F-days, 100-year winter
ZIP codes covered
54
#29 of 68 counties in PA (1 = deepest)
33″ 0″12″24″36″48″60″ ground frozen
Est. frost (typical soil) Typical code footing depth Clay–sand range

Frost depth by soil type

Soil typeEst. frost depth
Sand / gravel (drains well)42″
Silt / loam (typical yard soil)33″
Clay (holds water)29″

County average. Methodology.

Verify before you dig. These are climate-based estimates. The legally required frost depth is the figure your building department publishes in its IRC Table R301.2 (climatic and geographic design criteria). Call the Westmoreland County building or permitting office in Pennsylvania and call 811 before digging.

Frost depth by ZIP code in Westmoreland County

ZIPCityEst. frostCode range
15012Belle Vernon30″24–42″
15062Monessen30″24–42″
15068New Kensington34″30–42″
15083Sutersville31″24–42″
15085Trafford31″24–42″
15089West Newton31″24–42″
15479Smithton30″24–42″
15601Greensburg34″30–42″
15610Acme36″30–48″
15611Adamsburg32″30–42″
15612Alverton33″30–42″
15613Apollo35″30–48″
15615Ardara32″30–42″
15618Avonmore35″30–48″
15620Bradenville34″30–42″
15623Claridge33″30–42″
15626Delmont34″30–42″
15627Derry34″30–42″
15628Donegal36″30–48″
15632Export34″30–42″
15634Grapeville33″30–42″
15636Harrison City32″30–42″
15637Herminie31″24–42″
15639Hunker34″30–42″
15641Hyde Park36″30–48″
15642Irwin32″30–42″
15644Jeannette33″30–42″
15646Jones Mills36″30–48″
15647Larimer32″30–42″
15650Latrobe35″30–42″
15655Laughlintown34″30–42″
15656Leechburg36″30–48″
15658Ligonier34″30–42″
15661Loyalhanna35″30–42″
15665Manor32″30–42″
15666Mount Pleasant35″30–42″
15668Murrysville33″30–42″
15670New Alexandria35″30–48″
15671New Derry34″30–42″
15672New Stanton33″30–42″
15675Penn32″30–42″
15677Rector35″30–48″
15678Rillton31″30–42″
15679Ruffs Dale33″30–42″
15683Scottdale33″30–42″
15684Slickville35″30–48″
15687Stahlstown36″30–48″
15688Tarrs34″30–42″
15690Vandergrift36″30–48″
15692Westmoreland City32″30–42″
15697Youngwood33″30–42″
15698Yukon32″30–42″
15923Bolivar33″30–42″
15944New Florence32″30–42″

What this means for your project in Westmoreland County

Deck footings & piers

Footings must bear below the frost line and at least 12″ below undisturbed ground. For planning in this area, budget for holes around 42″ deep until your permit office confirms the exact figure.

Fence posts

Set posts at least one-third of their above-ground height. Where frost heave is a problem, carry concrete footings below the frost line (about 33″ here in typical soil) and bell or taper the bottom.

Water & irrigation lines

Bury supply lines below the frost depth. Your water utility or plumbing code sets the minimum cover; in a climate this cold, 4 feet or more is common for service lines.

Slabs & frost-protected foundations

Frost-protected shallow foundations (IRC R403.3) use the 100-year air freezing index — 1,154 °F-days here — to size perimeter insulation, letting footings sit shallower than the frost line.

Weather stations used

NOAA weather stationDistance100-yr AFI
Donegal, PA15 mi1,337
Donora 1 Sw, PA19 mi931
Newell, PA24 mi1,000
Ford City 4 S Dam, PA28 mi1,340

Nearby counties

Common questions

What is the frost line depth in Westmoreland County?

About 33 inches in typical soil, based on NOAA's 100-year air freezing index. Across the county's ZIP codes the estimate runs from 30 to 36 inches.

How deep should footings be in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania?

Codes in climates like this commonly require 30 to 42 inches. The Westmoreland County building department publishes the required frost depth in its adopted code (IRC Table R301.2).

Does frost depth vary within Westmoreland County?

Yes. Estimates differ by 6 inches between the coldest and mildest ZIP codes, mostly from latitude and elevation. Check your own ZIP below.