Frost Dates for 98241 — Darrington, Washington

Half of springs at Darrington Rs, WA see their last 32°F night by April 16; only one in ten is past it by March 27, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 49% of the 113 Washington stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 25 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 190 days in a typical year, longer than at 50% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 216 days one year in ten and falls short of 164 one year in ten. On average 102 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 17 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 8. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 71%.

August is the warmest month at Darrington Rs, WA, averaging 79°F by day and 54°F at night; December is the coldest at 40°F and 30°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 75% of years and May still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,908 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 55% of the 113 Washington stations. 30% of them (566) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 507. Precipitation totals 83.1 inches a year, most in November (13.2") and least in July (1.3"); May to September bring 16% of it.

The nearest other station, Concrete Ppl Fish Stn, WA, 21 miles northwest of Darrington and 355 feet lower, has a last frost 19 days earlier (March 28), a first frost 22 days later (November 14), a season 39 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Darrington usually arrives around December 20, and the last of the season around February 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Darrington Rs, WA, 2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 84% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 60 days after the last snow.

ZIP 98241 is 2 miles from Darrington Rs, WA, which stands at 550 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98241 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.