Frost Dates for 97321 — Albany, Oregon

Half of springs at Corvallis State Univ, OR see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by March 22, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 55% of the 103 Oregon stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 28 in half of years, as early as October 5 one year in ten, and holds off past November 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 20 days later, around November 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 33 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 194 days in a typical year, shorter than at 53% of the 103 Oregon stations; it reaches 227 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 54 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 24 days longer, to about May 11, and return around October 10. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 91% of winters and 16°F in 23%.

August is the warmest month at Corvallis State Univ, OR, averaging 84°F by day and 51°F at night; December is the coldest at 47°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 89% of years and April still brings one in 72% of years and May still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,278 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 103 Oregon stations. 28% of them (642) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 544. Precipitation totals 43.1 inches a year, most in December (7.7") and least in July (0.3"); May to September bring 13% of it.

The nearest other station, Lebanon, OR, 12 miles southeast of Albany, has a last frost 34 days earlier (March 14), a first frost 21 days later (November 18), a season 54 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Waterloo, OR, 13.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 97321 is 5 miles from Corvallis State Univ, OR, which stands at 225 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 97330 (Corvallis). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 97321 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.