Frost Dates for 98640 — Ocean Park, Washington

Half of springs at Long Beach Exp Stn, WA see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by March 16, and one in ten still has one after April 28. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 20 20%, and after April 28 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 71% 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 October 26 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 18 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 30, 29 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 200 days in a typical year, longer than at 58% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 233 days one year in ten and falls short of 170 one year in ten. On average 41 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 April 30, and return around October 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 94% of winters and 16°F in 18%.

August is the warmest month at Long Beach Exp Stn, WA, averaging 67°F by day and 52°F at night; December is the coldest at 48°F and 36°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 59% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,140 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the fewest of the 113 Washington stations. 25% of them (291) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 281. Precipitation totals 78.6 inches a year, most in December (12.2") and least in July (1.0"); May to September bring 15% of it.

The nearest other station, Raymond 2 S, WA, 18 miles northeast of Ocean Park, has a last frost 20 days later (April 26), a first frost 9 days earlier (October 17), a season 23 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Long Beach Exp Stn, WA, 9.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 98640 is 9 miles from Long Beach Exp Stn, WA, which stands at 25 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98640 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.