Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 98281 (Point Roberts, WA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Blaine, WA (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)219 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 98281 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring March to April.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 4: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 8 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 22 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 5 | Nov 19 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 98281
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 4). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 3–17 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 3–17 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 3–17 | Mar 10–31 (transplant) Mar 3–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 17–Mar 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–31 (transplant) Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) Jul 29–Aug 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 6–20 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 3–17 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 3–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 6–20 | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 6–20 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 17–Mar 3 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 3–10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 3–10 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 3–10 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 6–20 | Apr 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Blaine, WA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00450729), elevation 60 ft, 12.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham Intl AP, WA | 27 mi | Mar 31 | Oct 30 |
| Olga 2 SE, WA | 28 mi | Feb 26 | Nov 29 |
| Bellingham 3 SSW, WA | 31 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 37 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 98281
When is the last frost in 98281?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 98281 is March 31. For a more cautious planting date, use April 22, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 98281?
The average first fall freeze is November 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 18.
What hardiness zone is 98281?
ZIP 98281 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 98281 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
98230 Birch Bay 98297 98240 Custer 98248 Ferndale 98245 98243 98262 98279
Other ZIP codes in Whatcom County
98220 98225 98226 98229 98230 98240 98244 98247 98248 98262 98264 98266 98276 98283 98295 All Whatcom County frost dates · Washington frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.