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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 98664 — Vancouver, Washington

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Portland International Airport, OR (19 ft), 2 miles southwest.

Updated

In Vancouver, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 13 in half of years and has passed by April 1 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 19, as early as October 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 247 days (NOAA, Portland International Airport, OR).

Last spring frost
March 13

50% probability

First fall frost
November 19

50% probability

Growing season
247 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
41%

11 of 27 observed

Snow per year
0.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Vancouver

Half of springs at Portland International Airport, OR see their last 32°F night by March 13; only one in ten is past it by February 22, and one in ten still has one after April 1. Planting tender crops after March 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after April 1 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 49% of the 113 Washington stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 19 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past December 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 6, 26 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 247 days in a typical year, longer than at 89% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 277 days one year in ten and falls short of 219 one year in ten. On average 32 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 6, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 69% of winters and 16°F in 11%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 22Mar 27Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 10Apr 14Apr 18Apr 25
32°FFeb 22Feb 28Mar 6Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 21Mar 26Apr 1
28°F98% of yrsJan 4Jan 23Feb 3Feb 11Feb 16Feb 21Feb 25Feb 28Mar 6
24°F69% of yrsDec 7Dec 20Dec 30Jan 4Jan 13Jan 24Feb 1Feb 12Feb 19
20°F30% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F11% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 18Oct 23Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2Nov 6Nov 10Nov 15Nov 22
32°FOct 29Nov 5Nov 11Nov 14Nov 19Nov 23Nov 27Dec 2Dec 10
28°F98% of yrsNov 12Nov 20Nov 27Dec 1Dec 5Dec 12Dec 19Dec 28Jan 10
24°F69% of yrsNov 24Dec 1Dec 7Dec 14Dec 21Dec 29Jan 4Jan 14Feb 1
20°F30% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F11% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Portland International Airport, OR, 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 98664 →Compare Vancouver with another place →

Weather by month in Vancouver

August is the warmest month at Portland International Airport, OR, averaging 82°F by day and 59°F at night; December is the coldest at 47°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 76% of years and April still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,832 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 86% of the 113 Washington stations. 31% of them (881) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 639. Precipitation totals 36.9 inches a year, most in December (5.8") and least in July (0.5"); May to September bring 18% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Portland International Airport, OR
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan48365.096%95
Feb52373.795%78
Mar57404.076%337
Apr62442.911%<1112
May69492.50%0292
Jun74541.60%0426
Jul82590.50%0626
Aug82590.50%0639
Sep77541.50%0462
Oct64473.414%<1187
Nov54415.573%432
Dec47365.898%85

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Portland International Airport, OR (19 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, Vancouver Pearson Airport, WA, 4 miles west of Vancouver, has a last frost 16 days later (March 29), a first frost 10 days earlier (November 9), a season 24 days shorter.

Frost dates for 98661 (Vancouver) →

When it snows in Vancouver, Washington

Measurable snow is rare here: only 11 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Vancouver 4 NNE, WA, 5.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 98664

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Vancouver, Washington
WhenWhat to do
January 2 – January 16Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 16 – January 30Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 13 – February 27Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 13 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 27Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 5Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 19 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 98664 is 2 miles from Portland International Airport, OR, which stands at 19 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 98684 (Vancouver). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98664 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.

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 8b places in Washington