Frost dates for Yakima Air Terminal, WA
At Yakima Air Terminal, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 8 and the median first fall frost is Oct 4, for a typical growing season of 149 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7a.
- May 8Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 4First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 149 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 9 | May 29 | Jun 16 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | May 8 | May 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Apr 23 | May 8 |
| 24°F | Mar 8 | Apr 2 | Apr 22 |
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 8 | Sep 23 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F | Sep 23 | Oct 4 | Oct 17 |
| 28°F | Oct 2 | Oct 16 | Nov 1 |
| 24°F | Oct 13 | Oct 28 | Nov 12 |
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 | 92 days | 117 days | 139 days |
| 32°F | 126 days | 149 days | 170 days |
| 28°F | 155 days | 175 days | 199 days |
| 24°F | 183 days | 209 days | 238 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98902 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 3 km |
| 98939 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 9 km |
| 98951 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 98923 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 17 km |
| 98901 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 19 km |
| 98933 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 20 km |
| 98908 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 20 km |
| 98921 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 23 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 USW00024243, at 46.5683, -120.5428, elevation 324 m (1,064 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 147.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Yakima #2 (3 km)
- Selah 2 NE (12 km)
- Wapato (18 km)
- Moxee City 10 E (30 km)
- Ellensburg (45 km)
- Sunnyside #2 (47 km)
- Sunnyside (49 km)
- Priest Rapids Dam (49 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.