Frost Dates for 98620 — Goldendale, Washington

Half of springs at Goldendale, WA see their last 32°F night by May 19; only one in ten is past it by May 2, and one in ten still has one after June 9. Planting tender crops after May 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 1 20%, and after June 9 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 65% of the 113 Washington stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 25 in half of years, as early as September 8 one year in ten, and holds off past October 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 16, 24 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 126 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 151 days one year in ten and falls short of 102 one year in ten. On average 144 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 23 days longer, to about June 11, and return around September 9. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and February 17.

July is the warmest month at Goldendale, WA, averaging 86°F by day and 50°F at night; December is the coldest at 37°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 90% of years and June still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,953 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 50% of the 113 Washington stations. 26% of them (499) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 555. Precipitation totals 16.6 inches a year, most in December (3.2") and least in July (0.1"); May to September bring 14% of it.

The nearest other station, The Dalles Municipal Airport, WA, 25 miles southwest of Goldendale and 1,405 feet lower, has a last frost 38 days earlier (April 11), a first frost 31 days later (October 26), a season 71 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Goldendale usually arrives around December 2, and the last of the season around March 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Goldendale, WA, 4.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 71 days after the last snow.

ZIP 98620 is 5 miles from Goldendale, WA, which stands at 1,640 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98620 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.