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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 98841 — Omak, Washington

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Omak Airport, WA (1,296 ft), 7 miles northwest.

Updated

In Omak, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 30 in half of years and has passed by May 15 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 7, as early as September 23 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 160 days (NOAA, Omak Airport, WA).

Last spring frost
April 30

50% probability

First fall frost
October 7

50% probability

Growing season
160 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night

First snow
November 28

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 22

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

23 of 23 observed

Snow per year
27.9"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Omak

Half of springs at Omak Airport, WA see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 10 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 81% of the 113 Washington stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 7 in half of years, as early as September 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 160 days in a typical year, shorter than at 80% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 183 days one year in ten and falls short of 139 one year in ten. On average 145 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 13 days longer, to about May 13, and return around September 28. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 25 and February 17.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 28May 2May 6May 10May 13May 17May 21May 25Jun 1
32°FApr 14Apr 20Apr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 2May 6May 10May 15
28°FMar 26Apr 1Apr 5Apr 10Apr 14Apr 18Apr 23Apr 27May 2
24°FMar 4Mar 8Mar 13Mar 18Mar 24Mar 28Apr 1Apr 6Apr 14
20°FFeb 10Feb 17Feb 22Feb 26Feb 28Mar 3Mar 7Mar 12Mar 19
16°FJan 20Feb 1Feb 8Feb 13Feb 17Feb 22Feb 25Feb 28Mar 6
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 12Sep 17Sep 22Sep 25Sep 28Oct 1Oct 3Oct 5Oct 11
32°FSep 23Sep 29Oct 1Oct 4Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 17Oct 22
28°FOct 3Oct 7Oct 11Oct 15Oct 19Oct 22Oct 26Oct 30Nov 4
24°FOct 13Oct 19Oct 23Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2Nov 6Nov 10Nov 18
20°FOct 22Oct 30Nov 3Nov 7Nov 12Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25Dec 2
16°FOct 31Nov 9Nov 15Nov 21Nov 25Nov 30Dec 4Dec 10Dec 19

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Omak Airport, WA, 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 98841 →Compare Omak with another place →

Weather by month in Omak

July is the warmest month at Omak Airport, WA, averaging 89°F by day and 58°F at night; December is the coldest at 33°F and 23°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 47% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,743 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 83% of the 113 Washington stations. 30% of them (816) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 736. Precipitation totals 11.6 inches a year, most in December (2.0") and least in August (0.3"); May to September bring 29% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Omak Airport, WA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan33231.3100%280
Feb40250.9100%240
Mar53311.1100%208
Apr63370.897%1174
May72451.247%2281
Jun79511.01%0453
Jul89580.50%0736
Aug89570.30%0707
Sep78480.424%1402
Oct61380.996%1081
Nov43291.2100%201
Dec33232.0100%280

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Omak Airport, WA (1,296 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, Tonasket 4 NNE, WA, 26 miles north of Omak and 336 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 26), a first frost 3 days later (October 10), a season 8 days longer.

Frost dates for 98855 (Tonasket) →

When it snows in Omak, Washington

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Omak usually arrives around November 28, and the last of the season around February 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Chief Joseph Dam, WA, 30.5 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 67 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 98841

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Omak, Washington
WhenWhat to do
February 19 – March 5Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 5 – March 19Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 2 – April 16Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 30 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 15Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 23Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 7 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 98841 is 7 miles from Omak Airport, WA, which stands at 1,296 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 98841 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°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 6b places in Washington