USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 98203 — Everett, Washington
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Everett, WA (60 ft), 2 miles northeast.
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
- First fall frost
- November 2
- Growing season
- 223 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 16%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
3 of 19 observed
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%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 31 | Apr 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 15 | Apr 20 | Apr 24 | Apr 29 | May 3 | May 8 |
| 32°F | Mar 4 | Mar 12 | Mar 17 | Mar 21 | Mar 24 | Mar 29 | Apr 1 | Apr 4 | Apr 11 |
| 28°F | Jan 31 | Feb 14 | Feb 21 | Feb 26 | Mar 1 | Mar 4 | Mar 8 | Mar 14 | Mar 20 |
| 24°F94% of yrs | Dec 15 | Jan 1 | Jan 9 | Jan 20 | Jan 31 | Feb 9 | Feb 17 | Feb 25 | Feb 28 |
| 20°F59% of yrs | Dec 1 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 25 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Jan 21 | Feb 1 | Feb 14 |
| 16°F20% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 1 | Oct 6 | Oct 11 | Oct 15 | Oct 18 | Oct 22 | Oct 25 | Oct 30 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F | Oct 16 | Oct 22 | Oct 27 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 6 | Nov 11 | Nov 17 | Nov 23 |
| 28°F | Oct 29 | Nov 5 | Nov 11 | Nov 16 | Nov 21 | Nov 25 | Nov 29 | Dec 4 | Dec 14 |
| 24°F94% of yrs | Nov 12 | Nov 20 | Nov 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 10 | Dec 18 | Dec 28 | Jan 11 |
| 20°F59% of yrs | Nov 23 | Nov 30 | Dec 4 | Dec 9 | Dec 15 | Dec 23 | Dec 31 | Jan 6 | Jan 30 |
| 16°F20% of yrs | too 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 98203 →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.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48 | 35 | 5.0 | 99% | 11 | 4 |
| Feb | 50 | 35 | 3.7 | 98% | 11 | 3 |
| Mar | 55 | 37 | 4.1 | 92% | 7 | 19 |
| Apr | 60 | 41 | 3.4 | 31% | 1 | 65 |
| May | 66 | 47 | 2.7 | 0% | 0 | 205 |
| Jun | 70 | 52 | 2.3 | 0% | 0 | 324 |
| Jul | 75 | 55 | 1.0 | 0% | 0 | 467 |
| Aug | 76 | 55 | 1.2 | 0% | 0 | 479 |
| Sep | 70 | 50 | 2.3 | 0% | 0 | 301 |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.7 | 43% | 2 | 99 |
| Nov | 52 | 38 | 5.8 | 96% | 8 | 17 |
| Dec | 47 | 34 | 5.0 | 100% | 12 | 2 |
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, 4 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.
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, 23.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 98203
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 13 – January 27 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 27 – February 10 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 24 – March 10 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 24 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 10 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 19 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 2 onward | Plant 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 98203 is 2 miles 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 98203 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.