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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 98244 — Deming, Washington

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Clearbrook, WA (64 ft), 13 miles northwest.

Updated

In Deming, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 18 in half of years and has passed by May 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 18, as early as September 28 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 185 days (NOAA, Clearbrook, WA).

Last spring frost
April 18

50% probability

First fall frost
October 18

50% probability

Growing season
185 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
December 19

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 28

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
95%

19 of 20 observed

Snow per year
10.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Deming

Half of springs at Clearbrook, WA see their last 32°F night by April 18; 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 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 66% of the 113 Washington stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 18 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past November 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 20 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 8, 27 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 185 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 215 days one year in ten and falls short of 155 one year in ten. On average 57 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 19 days longer, to about May 7, and return around September 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 51%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 23Apr 28May 1May 4May 7May 10May 13May 17May 22
32°FMar 27Apr 3Apr 8Apr 14Apr 18Apr 22Apr 27May 1May 5
28°FFeb 25Mar 3Mar 8Mar 14Mar 18Mar 22Mar 26Apr 1Apr 8
24°FJan 10Jan 27Feb 5Feb 15Feb 21Feb 26Mar 1Mar 6Mar 12
20°F86% of yrsDec 9Dec 23Jan 3Jan 11Jan 20Jan 30Feb 4Feb 17Feb 24
16°F51% of yrsDec 5Dec 14Dec 25Jan 1Jan 7Jan 12Jan 19Jan 27Feb 1
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 10Sep 17Sep 22Sep 26Sep 29Oct 1Oct 4Oct 7Oct 14
32°FSep 28Oct 4Oct 8Oct 13Oct 18Oct 22Oct 28Nov 1Nov 8
28°FOct 20Oct 27Oct 31Nov 3Nov 7Nov 12Nov 18Nov 25Dec 4
24°FNov 6Nov 11Nov 18Nov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 12Dec 20Dec 30
20°F86% of yrsNov 20Nov 29Dec 3Dec 9Dec 16Dec 22Dec 30Jan 9Jan 25
16°F51% of yrsNov 29Dec 5Dec 11Dec 19Dec 27Jan 1Jan 7Jan 16Jan 26

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Clearbrook, 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 98244 →Compare Deming with another place →

Weather by month in Deming

July is the warmest month at Clearbrook, WA, averaging 76°F by day and 51°F at night; December is the coldest at 43°F and 32°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 80% of years and May still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,712 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 80% of the 113 Washington stations. 31% of them (525) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 422. Precipitation totals 50.0 inches a year, most in November (7.1") and least in July (1.5"); May to September bring 23% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Clearbrook, WA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan44327.0100%131
Feb48333.9100%112
Mar53365.0100%79
Apr59394.080%244
May66453.221%<1179
Jun70492.40%0291
Jul76511.50%0422
Aug77501.50%0417
Sep71472.913%<1264
Oct59425.375%375
Nov49367.198%88
Dec43326.2100%131

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Clearbrook, WA (64 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, Bellingham International Airport, WA, 19 miles west of Deming, has a last frost 18 days earlier (March 31), a first frost 12 days later (October 30), a season 26 days longer.

Frost dates for 98248 (Ferndale) →

When it snows in Deming, Washington

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Deming usually arrives around December 19, and the last of the season around February 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Clearbrook, WA, 12.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 95% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 49 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 98244

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Deming, Washington
WhenWhat to do
February 7 – February 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 21 – March 7Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 21 – April 4Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 18 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 26Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 4Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 18 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 98244 is 13 miles from Clearbrook, WA, which stands at 64 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 98264 (Lynden). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98244 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.

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 8a places in Washington