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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 97383 — Stayton, Oregon

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Stayton, OR (425 ft), 3 miles west.

Updated

In Stayton, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 29 in half of years and has passed by April 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 6, as early as October 20 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 222 days (NOAA, Stayton, OR).

Last spring frost
March 29

50% probability

First fall frost
November 6

50% probability

Growing season
222 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
19%

5 of 27 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Stayton

Half of springs at Stayton, OR see their last 32°F night by March 29; only one in ten is past it by March 5, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 18 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 64% of the 103 Oregon stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 6 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around November 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 23 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 222 days in a typical year, longer than at 66% of the 103 Oregon stations; it reaches 255 days one year in ten and falls short of 194 one year in ten. On average 51 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 28 days longer, to about April 26, and return around October 22. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 91% of winters and 16°F in 22%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 5Apr 12Apr 18Apr 22Apr 26Apr 30May 2May 6May 12
32°FMar 5Mar 14Mar 20Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 4Apr 9Apr 18
28°FFeb 1Feb 13Feb 20Feb 26Mar 1Mar 7Mar 13Mar 19Mar 26
24°F91% of yrsDec 17Jan 1Jan 10Jan 20Jan 31Feb 8Feb 15Feb 23Mar 1
20°F58% of yrsDec 3Dec 14Dec 22Dec 30Jan 3Jan 10Jan 21Feb 1Feb 10
16°F22% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 4Oct 11Oct 15Oct 18Oct 22Oct 25Oct 28Nov 1Nov 10
32°FOct 20Oct 26Oct 30Nov 2Nov 6Nov 10Nov 14Nov 20Nov 26
28°FNov 1Nov 7Nov 12Nov 17Nov 22Nov 27Dec 2Dec 9Dec 18
24°F91% of yrsNov 14Nov 23Nov 29Dec 5Dec 10Dec 17Dec 25Jan 3Jan 17
20°F58% of yrsNov 23Dec 2Dec 8Dec 12Dec 21Dec 27Jan 1Jan 12Feb 1
16°F22% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Stayton, OR, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 97383 →Compare Stayton with another place →

Weather by month in Stayton

July is the warmest month at Stayton, OR, averaging 81°F by day and 54°F at night; December is the coldest at 46°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 39% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,257 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 50% of the 103 Oregon stations. 29% of them (657) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 533. Precipitation totals 52.7 inches a year, most in December (8.5") and least in July (0.5"); May to September bring 16% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Stayton, OR
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan47347.2100%125
Feb51355.598%116
Mar55376.290%623
Apr60414.839%171
May67463.32%0207
Jun73502.10%0345
Jul81540.50%0533
Aug81530.70%0530
Sep75492.00%0373
Oct63434.733%1137
Nov52387.289%822
Dec46348.5100%125

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Stayton, OR (425 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Silver Creek Falls, OR, 8 miles northeast of Stayton and 925 feet higher, has a last frost 32 days later (April 30), a first frost 15 days earlier (October 22), a season 48 days shorter.

Frost dates for 97358 (Lyons) →

When it snows in Stayton, Oregon

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Stayton, OR, 2.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 97383

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Stayton, Oregon
WhenWhat to do
January 18 – February 1Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 1 – February 15Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 1 – March 15Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 29 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 14Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 23Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 6 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 97383 is 3 miles from Stayton, OR, which stands at 425 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 97383 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.

Frost dates across Oregon →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8b places in Oregon