Frost Dates for 98848 — Quincy, Washington

Half of springs at Quincy, WA see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 88% of the 113 Washington stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 16 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past October 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 20, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, shorter than at 59% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 197 days one year in ten and falls short of 157 one year in ten. On average 122 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 12 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 5. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between November 29 and February 7.

July is the warmest month at Quincy, WA, averaging 87°F by day and 59°F at night; December is the coldest at 36°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 September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,836 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 87% of the 113 Washington stations. 32% of them (907) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 722. Precipitation totals 7.5 inches a year, most in December (1.3") and least in August (0.1"); May to September bring 23% of it.

The nearest other station, Ephrata Municipal Airport, WA, 18 miles northeast of Quincy, has a last frost 1 day later (April 22), a first frost 1 day later (October 17), a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Quincy usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around February 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Quincy, WA, 2.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 71% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 77 days after the last snow.

ZIP 98848 is 3 miles from Quincy, WA, which stands at 1,286 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 98848 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.