U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00450482 · Washington

Frost Dates for Battle Ground, WA

NOAA weather station Battle Ground (USC00450482), Washington · elevation 284 ft (87 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 12only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2650% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1650% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season174 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Battle Ground, WASpring: a frost after April 5 in 9 years out of 10, after April 26 in half of the years, after May 12 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 29 in 1 year out of 10, before October 16 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 174 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 26First frost ~Oct 16Frost season at Battle Ground, WASpring: a frost after April 5 in 9 years out of 10, after April 26 in half of the years, after May 12 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 29 in 1 year out of 10, before October 16 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 174 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 26First frost ~Oct 16
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 12September 29
50% (typical)April 26October 16
90% (likely)April 5November 10
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
174 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 29
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 5

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 24 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 16. Frost-free season 178 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Battle Ground: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 12, 20% May 5, 30% May 1, 40% April 29, 50% April 26, 60% April 23, 70% April 18, 80% April 13, 90% April 5. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 15, 2022 April 16, 2023 April 21, 2024 April 23, 2025 April 21, 2026 April 16.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 12Apr 26Apr 52021: April 152022: April 162023: April 212024: April 232025: April 212026: April 16Fall at Battle Ground: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 29, 20% October 5, 30% October 8, 40% October 13, 50% October 16, 60% October 21, 70% October 26, 80% November 1, 90% November 10. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 12, 2022 November 7, 2023 October 27, 2024 October 23, 2025 October 14.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Sep 29Oct 16Nov 102021: October 122022: November 72023: October 272024: October 232025: October 14
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 15October 12
2022April 16November 7
2023April 21October 27
2024April 23October 23
2025April 21October 14
2026April 16season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date, April 5, carries a 90% chance of a light frost and is therefore a gamble. The cautious date for planting tender crops in Battle Ground is May 12, when only a 10% chance of a light frost remains.

For finishing tender crops in the fall the cautious date is September 29, with a 10% chance of a light frost occurring earlier. The median dates for light frost are April 26 and October 16, each representing an even 50% chance of a frost later (spring) or earlier (fall). The hard-frost 50% dates are March 29 and November 5; at those points a hard frost has a 50% chance of having occurred. A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants more severely than a light frost at 32 °F, because the lower temperature can freeze tissues that survive a light frost.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 12" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before September 29" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Battle Ground, WANumbered nearest stations: 1 — Vancouver, WA — 9 mi; 2 — Portland, OR — 13 mi; 3 — Cougar, WA — 25 mi; 4 — near Carson, WA — 28 mi; 5 — near Sandy, OR — 29 mi.25 mi · 40 km1. Vancouver, WA — 9 mi12. Portland, OR — 13 mi23. Cougar, WA — 25 mi34. near Carson, WA — 28 mi45. near Sandy, OR — 29 mi5
  1. Vancouver, WA 9 mi (14 km)
  2. Portland, OR 13 mi (21 km)
  3. Cougar, WA 25 mi (41 km)
  4. near Carson, WA 28 mi (44 km)
  5. near Sandy, OR 29 mi (46 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 45.7717, -122.5286.