Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 98686 (Mount Vista, 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, Vancouver 4 NNE, WA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)177 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 98686, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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 98686 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 18: 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) | Apr 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 10 |
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 10 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 30 | Nov 4 |
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 98686
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 18). 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 | Mar 1–15 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 15–Mar 1 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 15–Mar 1 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 1–15 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 1–15 | Apr 5–26 (transplant) Mar 29–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) Jul 12–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 26 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) Jul 12–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 15–29 | Apr 12–May 3 (transplant) Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 22–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 17–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 15–29 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 1–15 | May 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 15–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 12–26 (transplant) Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (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: Vancouver 4 NNE, WA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00458773), elevation 210 ft, 3.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Ground, WA | 6 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 16 |
| Vancouver Pearson AP, WA | 7 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 9 |
| Portland Intl AP, OR | 9 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 19 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 44 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 98686
When is the last frost in 98686?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 98686 is April 26. For a more cautious planting date, use May 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 98686?
The average first fall freeze is October 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 1.
What hardiness zone is 98686?
ZIP 98686 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 98686 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
98662 Five Corners 98665 Hazel Dell 98685 Salmon Creek 98663 Vancouver 98661 Vancouver 98660 Vancouver 98642 Ridgefield 98664 Vancouver
Other ZIP codes in Clark County
98601 98604 98606 98607 98629 98642 98660 98661 98662 98663 98664 98665 98675 98682 98683 98684 98685 All Clark County frost dates · Washington frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.