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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 99326 — Connell, Washington

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Connell 1 W, WA (1,020 ft), under a mile south.

Updated

In Connell, 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 12, as early as September 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 165 days (NOAA, Connell 1 W, WA).

Last spring frost
April 30

50% probability

First fall frost
October 12

50% probability

Growing season
165 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

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

First snow
December 1

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 26

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

25 of 25 observed

Snow per year
13.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Connell

Half of springs at Connell 1 W, WA see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 12, 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 12 in half of years, as early as September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past October 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 165 days in a typical year, shorter than at 75% of the 113 Washington stations; it reaches 187 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 one year in ten. On average 115 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 October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between December 6 and February 3.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 30May 3May 7May 10May 13May 16May 19May 24May 31
32°FApr 12Apr 19Apr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 2May 6May 10May 15
28°FMar 20Mar 29Apr 1Apr 6Apr 10Apr 15Apr 20Apr 26May 1
24°FFeb 23Mar 2Mar 8Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 28Apr 1Apr 7
20°FJan 22Feb 4Feb 11Feb 18Feb 24Feb 28Mar 4Mar 10Mar 18
16°F96% of yrsDec 24Jan 7Jan 17Jan 27Feb 3Feb 10Feb 18Feb 25Mar 3
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 15Sep 22Sep 26Sep 29Oct 1Oct 3Oct 6Oct 9Oct 14
32°FSep 29Oct 3Oct 6Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 17Oct 21Oct 26
28°FOct 8Oct 14Oct 18Oct 22Oct 24Oct 27Oct 31Nov 3Nov 10
24°FOct 20Oct 25Oct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 9Nov 14Nov 20Nov 28
20°FOct 29Nov 4Nov 10Nov 17Nov 23Nov 28Dec 3Dec 10Dec 18
16°F96% of yrsNov 6Nov 14Nov 25Nov 30Dec 6Dec 12Dec 19Dec 28Jan 6

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Connell 1 W, 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 99326 →Compare Connell with another place →

Weather by month in Connell

July is the warmest month at Connell 1 W, WA, averaging 90°F by day and 55°F at night; December is the coldest at 39°F and 27°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 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,714 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 113 Washington stations. 31% of them (849) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 694. Precipitation totals 8.8 inches a year, most in December (1.3") and least in August (0.2"); May to September bring 25% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Connell 1 W, WA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan39271.2100%231
Feb46290.8100%183
Mar56320.8100%1615
Apr65370.795%786
May74440.848%2289
Jun80500.60%0456
Jul90550.30%0694
Aug88550.20%0665
Sep79470.313%1399
Oct64380.896%9101
Nov48311.0100%166
Dec39271.3100%241

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Connell 1 W, WA (1,020 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, Ice Harbor Dam, WA, 30 miles south of Connell and 652 feet lower, has a last frost 23 days earlier (April 7), a first frost 10 days later (October 22), a season 34 days longer.

Frost dates for 99323 (Burbank) →

When it snows in Connell, Washington

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Connell usually arrives around December 1, and the last of the season around February 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hatton 9 SE, WA, 11.4 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 63 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 99326

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Connell, 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 20Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 28Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 12 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 99326 is under a mile from Connell 1 W, WA, which stands at 1,020 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 99344 (Othello). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 99326 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