Frost dates / Washington / Federal Way

Frost dates in Federal Way, WA

The station on this page is TACOMA #1, WA US (USC00458278), 5.7 miles from the city point. Population in the Census 2024 estimate is 100,252.

Zone 8bUSDA average annual extreme minimum 15°F to 20°F, from ZIP 98023 (1.2 miles from the city point used on this page).

Median last 32°F is March 8. Median first 32°F is November 14. The 50% growing-season length is 250 days. The green band runs from the median last frost to the median first frost. Thin ticks mark the 10%, 50%, and 90% dates.

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Last 32°F in spring

NCEI’s probability is the chance the last spring minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or after the date.

Probability	Date	How to read it
90%	February 15	Earlier date. A last 32°F on or after this day is common.
50%	March 8	Median.
10%	March 31	Later date. A last 32°F on or after this day is uncommon.

First 32°F in fall

NCEI’s probability is the chance the first autumn minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or before the date.

Probability	Date	How to read it
10%	October 30	Earlier date. A first 32°F on or before this day is uncommon.
50%	November 14	Median.
90%	December 2	Later date. A first 32°F on or before this day is common.

32°F growing-season length

Days between the last spring 32°F and the first autumn 32°F. The figure is a length the season meets or exceeds at that probability, from NCEI, not a subtraction done on this site.

Probability the season is at least this long	Days
10%	283
50%	250
90%	223

28°F threshold

	10%	50%	90%
Last, on or after	March 4	February 11	December 29
First, on or before	November 8	December 1	January 1
Season at least	338 days	301 days	264 days

36°F threshold

	10%	50%	90%
Last, on or after	April 24	April 2	March 13
First, on or before	October 16	October 31	November 15
Season at least	233 days	209 days	185 days

Station TACOMA #1, WA US (USC00458278). Completeness flag S, 26 years used for the 32°F dates. NCEI’s annual probability of at least one day at or below 32°F is 100%. Freeze dates are conditional on that threshold occurring. Elevation 7.6 m. The same probability language applies to the 28°F and 36°F rows when those dates passed the same quality checks.

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Federal Way, WA

Zone 8bAverage annual extreme minimum 15°F to 20°F

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Washington. Nearest qualified station: TACOMA #1, WA US (USC00458278), 5.7 miles. Median last 32°F March 8. Median first 32°F November 14. The 50% growing-season length is 250 days.

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32°F probabilities at this station

	10%	50%	90%
Last 32°F on or after	March 31	March 8	February 15
First 32°F on or before	October 30	November 14	December 2

Column order matches the NCEI file: for the last freeze, 10% is the later date and 90% is the earlier date. How to read the probabilities.

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Planting calendar

Frost dates for Washington are above. Planting windows appear for states with a cited extension guide. The fall and seed tools use the numbers you enter and the station dates.

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