Frost Dates for 98377 — Randle, Washington

Half of springs at Packwood, WA see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 17 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 8 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 21 days later, around October 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 162 days in a typical year, shorter than at 78% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 189 days one year in ten and falls short of 136 one year in ten. On average 82 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 15 days longer, to about May 15, and return around September 24. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 64%.

July is the warmest month at Packwood, WA, averaging 79°F by day and 53°F at night; December is the coldest at 43°F and 31°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 49% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,916 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 53% of the 113 Washington stations. 28% of them (533) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 493. Precipitation totals 58.5 inches a year, most in November (9.4") and least in July (0.7"); May to September bring 15% of it.

The nearest other station, Glenoma, WA, 14 miles west of Randle and 220 feet lower, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 24), a first frost 7 days later (October 15), a season 14 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Randle usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Packwood, WA, 10.2 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 53 days after the last snow.

ZIP 98377 is 10 miles from Packwood, WA, which stands at 1,060 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98377 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.