Frost dates for Shelton Sanderson Field, WA
At Shelton Sanderson Field, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 27 and the median first fall frost is Oct 16, for a typical growing season of 175 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 12. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Apr 27Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 12Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 16First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 175 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 | Apr 28 | May 12 | May 29 |
| 32°F | Apr 6 | Apr 27 | May 12 |
| 28°F | Mar 3 | Mar 29 | Apr 25 |
| 24°F | Jan 16 | Feb 25 | Mar 26 |
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 16 | Oct 1 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Oct 12 | Nov 4 | Nov 29 |
| 24°F | Oct 29 | Nov 24 | Jan 3 |
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 | 119 days | 141 days | 163 days |
| 32°F | 150 days | 175 days | 200 days |
| 28°F | 185 days | 219 days | 254 days |
| 24°F | 233 days | 276 days | 319 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98584 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 1 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 USW00094227, at 47.2381, -123.1408, elevation 83 m (271 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 79.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cushman Powerhouse #2 (15 km)
- Matlock 8 S (22 km)
- Elma (32 km)
- Olympia Airport (34 km)
- Tacoma Narrows Airport (43 km)
- Aberdeen 20nne (43 km)
- Bremerton (50 km)
- Tacoma #1 (55 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.