Frost dates for Elma, WA
At Elma, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 14, for a typical growing season of 169 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 14First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 169 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 1 | May 19 | Jun 11 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | May 1 | May 19 |
| 28°F | Mar 8 | Apr 3 | May 3 |
| 24°F | Jan 21 | Mar 1 | Apr 2 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 12 | Sep 29 | Oct 15 |
| 32°F | Sep 29 | Oct 14 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 10 | Nov 2 | Nov 27 |
| 24°F | Oct 31 | Nov 24 | Jan 2 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 101 days | 130 days | 156 days |
| 32°F | 143 days | 169 days | 197 days |
| 28°F | 175 days | 212 days | 247 days |
| 24°F | 229 days | 271 days | 317 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 99% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98541 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 6 km |
| 98583 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 7 km |
| 98559 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 8 km |
| 98557 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 11 km |
| 98568 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 18 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00452531, at 47.0092, -123.4008, elevation 21 m (70 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 69.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Matlock 8 S (15 km)
- Shelton Sanderson Field (32 km)
- Aberdeen (33 km)
- Aberdeen 20nne (37 km)
- Olympia Airport (38 km)
- Hoquiam Bowerman Airport (40 km)
- Cushman Powerhouse #2 (44 km)
- Raymond 2 S (47 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.