Washington frost dates

Average last spring and first fall frost dates for Washington’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.

Reviewed October 2026

Among Washington’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Mar 8 in Seattle to Apr 27 in Pasco. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.

City	Average last spring frost	Average first fall frost	Frost-free days	Hardiness zone	Weather station used
Seattle	Mar 8	Nov 23	260	9a	Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo, WA, 6 mi
Spokane	Apr 26	Oct 15	172	6b–7a	Spokane Felts Fld, WA, 5 mi
Tacoma	Mar 8	Nov 14	251	8b–9a	Tacoma #1, WA, 2 mi
Vancouver	Mar 29	Nov 9	225	8b–9a	Vancouver Pearson Airport, WA, 3 mi
Bellevue	Mar 8	Nov 23	260	8b–9a	Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo, WA, 8 mi
Kent	Mar 20	Nov 10	235	8b–9a	Kent, WA, 2 mi
Everett	Mar 24	Nov 2	223	8b–9a	Everett, WA
Spokane Valley	Apr 26	Oct 15	172	6b–7a	Spokane Felts Fld, WA, 4 mi
Renton	Mar 13	Nov 16	248	8b–9a	Renton Muni Airport, WA
Federal Way	Mar 8	Nov 14	251	8b–9a	Tacoma #1, WA, 6 mi
Yakima	Apr 8	Oct 23	198	7a	Yakima #2, WA
Bellingham	Apr 1	Nov 2	215	8a–8b	Bellingham 3 Ssw, WA, 3 mi
Kirkland	Mar 8	Nov 23	260	8b–9a	Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo, WA, 2 mi
Kennewick	Mar 28	Oct 30	216	7b	Kennewick, WA, 4 mi
Auburn	Mar 20	Nov 10	235	8b	Kent, WA, 8 mi
Redmond	Mar 8	Nov 23	260	8b–9a	Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo, WA, 7 mi
Pasco	Apr 27	Oct 11	167	7b	Pasco Tri Cities Airport, WA
Marysville	Mar 24	Nov 2	223	8b	Everett, WA, 7 mi
Sammamish	Mar 30	Nov 7	222	8b	Snoqualmie Falls, WA, 10 mi
Shoreline	Mar 8	Nov 23	260	9a	Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo, WA, 6 mi

Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.

An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.

Planting dates for Seattle

Timed from Seattle’s average last frost of Mar 8, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant outside
Tomatoes	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Mar 15 to Mar 22
Peppers	Jan 11 to Jan 25	Mar 22
Lettuce	Jan 4 to Jan 11	Feb 8 to Feb 15
Broccoli	Dec 28 to Jan 11	Feb 8 to Feb 22
Cucumbers	Feb 15 to Feb 22	Mar 15 to Mar 22
Basil	Jan 25 to Feb 8	Mar 22

When to plant, for your garden

Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.

ZIP code

Last frost date

Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.

More about frost dates

How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors

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