Frost Dates for 98321 — Buckley, Washington

Half of springs at Buckley 1 NE, WA see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 16, and one in ten still has one after April 27. Planting tender crops after April 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 20 20%, and after April 27 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 52% of the 113 Washington stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 30 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 22 days later, around November 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 31, 27 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 204 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 233 days one year in ten and falls short of 174 one year in ten. On average 50 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 24 days longer, to about May 1, and return around October 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 31%.

August is the warmest month at Buckley 1 NE, WA, averaging 77°F by day and 52°F at night; December is the coldest at 46°F and 33°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 65% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,741 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 73% of the 113 Washington stations. 28% of them (487) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 440. Precipitation totals 48.2 inches a year, most in November (6.8") and least in July (1.1"); May to September bring 23% of it.

The nearest other station, Mud Mountain Dam, WA, 6 miles east of Buckley and 623 feet higher, has a last frost 11 days later (April 18), a first frost 1 day later (October 31), a season 8 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Buckley usually arrives around December 31, and the last of the season around February 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Buckley 1 NE, WA, 2.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 70% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 51 days after the last snow.

ZIP 98321 is 3 miles from Buckley 1 NE, WA, which stands at 685 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98321 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.