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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 99206 — Spokane Valley, Washington

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Spokane Felts Field, WA (1,953 ft), 4 miles northwest.

Updated

In Spokane Valley, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 26 in half of years and has passed by May 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 15, as early as September 30 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 170 days (NOAA, Spokane Felts Field, WA).

Last spring frost
April 26

50% probability

First fall frost
October 15

50% probability

Growing season
170 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
November 13

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 4

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

28 of 28 observed

Snow per year
45.4"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Spokane Valley

Half of springs at Spokane Felts Field, WA see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 10 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 15 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 170 days in a typical year, shorter than at 68% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 193 days one year in ten and falls short of 149 one year in ten. On average 123 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 9, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 5 and February 13.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 27May 1May 4May 7May 9May 12May 15May 18May 25
32°FApr 10Apr 17Apr 20Apr 24Apr 26Apr 29May 1May 5May 10
28°FMar 16Mar 22Mar 27Mar 31Apr 4Apr 8Apr 13Apr 19Apr 26
24°FFeb 25Mar 2Mar 5Mar 8Mar 12Mar 15Mar 19Mar 25Mar 30
20°FFeb 2Feb 12Feb 18Feb 23Feb 27Mar 1Mar 4Mar 8Mar 14
16°F99% of yrsJan 8Jan 22Feb 1Feb 7Feb 13Feb 18Feb 22Feb 28Mar 5
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 19Sep 24Sep 27Sep 29Oct 1Oct 3Oct 6Oct 10Oct 15
32°FSep 30Oct 4Oct 7Oct 11Oct 15Oct 17Oct 21Oct 25Oct 31
28°FOct 11Oct 17Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2Nov 7Nov 13
24°FOct 21Oct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 8Nov 11Nov 16Nov 21Nov 26
20°FNov 1Nov 7Nov 12Nov 18Nov 22Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6Dec 16
16°F99% of yrsNov 11Nov 18Nov 25Dec 1Dec 5Dec 10Dec 16Dec 23Jan 2

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Spokane Felts Field, 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 99206 →Compare Spokane Valley with another place →

Weather by month in Spokane Valley

July is the warmest month at Spokane Felts Field, WA, averaging 87°F by day and 56°F at night; December is the coldest at 37°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,402 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 113 Washington stations. 28% of them (678) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 668. Precipitation totals 17.4 inches a year, most in December (2.2") and least in August (0.5"); May to September bring 29% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Spokane Felts Field, WA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan38262.0100%240
Feb43271.3100%220
Mar51321.8100%185
Apr60371.595%849
May70441.733%2230
Jun76501.50%0394
Jul87560.70%0668
Aug86550.50%0631
Sep76470.710%<1346
Oct60381.590%875
Nov45312.0100%174
Dec37262.2100%250

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Spokane Felts Field, WA (1,953 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, Spokane International Airport, WA, 13 miles west of Spokane Valley and 400 feet higher, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 3 days earlier (October 12), a season 2 days shorter.

Frost dates for 99224 (Spokane) →

When it snows in Spokane Valley, Washington

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Spokane Valley usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Spokane International Airport, WA, 12.6 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 22 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 99206

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Spokane Valley, Washington
WhenWhat to do
February 15 – March 1Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 1 – March 15Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 29 – April 12Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 26 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 23Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 1Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 15 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 99206 is 4 miles from Spokane Felts Field, WA, which stands at 1,953 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 17 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 99208 (Spokane). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 99206 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.

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 7a places in Washington