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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 98201 — Everett, Washington

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Everett, WA (60 ft), under a mile southeast.

Updated

In Everett, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 24 in half of years and has passed by April 11 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 2, as early as October 16 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 223 days (NOAA, Everett, WA).

Last spring frost
March 24

50% probability

First fall frost
November 2

50% probability

Growing season
223 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
16%

3 of 19 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Everett

Half of springs at Everett, WA see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by March 4, and one in ten still has one after April 11. Planting tender crops after April 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 11 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 56% of the 113 Washington stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 2 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 19 days later, around November 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 20, 22 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 223 days in a typical year, longer than at 74% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 249 days one year in ten and falls short of 197 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 27 days longer, to about April 20, and return around October 18. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 94% of winters and 16°F in 20%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 31Apr 6Apr 10Apr 15Apr 20Apr 24Apr 29May 3May 8
32°FMar 4Mar 12Mar 17Mar 21Mar 24Mar 29Apr 1Apr 4Apr 11
28°FJan 31Feb 14Feb 21Feb 26Mar 1Mar 4Mar 8Mar 14Mar 20
24°F94% of yrsDec 15Jan 1Jan 9Jan 20Jan 31Feb 9Feb 17Feb 25Feb 28
20°F59% of yrsDec 1Dec 9Dec 16Dec 25Jan 1Jan 8Jan 21Feb 1Feb 14
16°F20% 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 1Oct 6Oct 11Oct 15Oct 18Oct 22Oct 25Oct 30Nov 4
32°FOct 16Oct 22Oct 27Oct 31Nov 2Nov 6Nov 11Nov 17Nov 23
28°FOct 29Nov 5Nov 11Nov 16Nov 21Nov 25Nov 29Dec 4Dec 14
24°F94% of yrsNov 12Nov 20Nov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 10Dec 18Dec 28Jan 11
20°F59% of yrsNov 23Nov 30Dec 4Dec 9Dec 15Dec 23Dec 31Jan 6Jan 30
16°F20% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Everett, WA, 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 98201 →Compare Everett with another place →

Weather by month in Everett

August is the warmest month at Everett, WA, averaging 76°F by day and 55°F at night; December is the coldest at 47°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 31% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,983 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 113 Washington stations. 31% of them (619) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 479. Precipitation totals 40.2 inches a year, most in November (5.8") and least in July (1.0"); May to September bring 24% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Everett, WA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan48355.099%114
Feb50353.798%113
Mar55374.192%719
Apr60413.431%165
May66472.70%0205
Jun70522.30%0324
Jul75551.00%0467
Aug76551.20%0479
Sep70502.30%0301
Oct61433.743%299
Nov52385.896%817
Dec47345.0100%122

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Everett, WA (60 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, Everett Snohomish Airport, WA, 7 miles southwest of Everett and 546 feet higher, has a last frost 15 days earlier (March 9), a first frost 15 days later (November 17), a season 27 days longer.

Frost dates for 98012 (Mill Creek) →

When it snows in Everett, Washington

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Startup 1 E, WA, 23.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 98201

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Everett, Washington
WhenWhat to do
January 13 – January 27Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 27 – February 10Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 24 – March 10Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 24 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 10Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 19Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 2 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 98201 is under a mile from Everett, WA, which stands at 60 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 98270 (Marysville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98201 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 Washington →

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 Washington