Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 82222 — Lance Creek, WY

ZIP code 82222 (Lance Creek, Niobrara County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost September 25.

Where ZIP 82222 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 17
First frostSep 25
2012 zone4b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lance Creek, WY…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Lance Creek, WY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 25median — 10% chance by Sep 9
Growing season129 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Lance Creek 11nne, WY — 2 miles away, elevation 4,203 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 82222

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 31 – Aug 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 11 – Oct 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Sep 25) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 82222 came on Mar 16 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 4b in Wyoming

495 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wyoming, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 22

American elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FDouglas-fir200 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 83

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 226

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 152

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 3

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Lance Creek, WY.

Soil in Lance Creek, WY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 82222 is Theedle — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Theedle-Kishona-Shingle loams, 3 to 30 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 82222; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lance Creek, WY

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights182nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,455base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation14.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall41 inper year; 44 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 12 °F 37°12° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 14 °F 40°14° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 23 °F 49°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 30 °F 58°30° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 40 °F 67°40° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 49 °F 80°49° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 57 °F 90°57° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 54 °F 88°54° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 44 °F 77°44° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 32 °F 61°32° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 20 °F 48°20° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 12 °F 37°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.27 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 0.3❄5 JanFebruary: 0.40 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 0.4❄8 FebMarch: 0.75 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 0.8❄7 MarApril: 2.07 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 2.1❄6 AprMay: 2.74 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 2.7❄2 MayJune: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 JunJuly: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 JulAugust: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 AugSeptember: 1.38 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.13 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 1.1❄3 OctNovember: 0.55 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 0.6❄5 NovDecember: 0.29 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 0.3❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lance Creek 11nne, WY (2 mi away); precipitation: Lance Creek 11nne, WY (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

822255a
Lusk, WY · 22 mi
822295a
Shawnee, WY · 26 mi
822245a
Lost Springs, WY · 28 mi
822275a
Manville, WY · 31 mi
827014b
Newcastle, WY · 38 mi
826335a
Douglas, WY · 39 mi
577354b
Edgemont, SD · 41 mi
822425a
Van Tassell, WY · 44 mi

Wyoming planting zones →

Questions about 82222

What planting zone is ZIP code 82222?

ZIP code 82222 (Lance Creek, WY) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Lance Creek, WY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 82222 is May 17; after June 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lance Creek 11nne station.

When is the first frost in Lance Creek, WY?

The median first fall frost near 82222 is September 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 129 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 82222?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 82222 get?

About 14.3 inches of precipitation a year and 41 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lance Creek 11nne station).

How hot do summers get in Lance Creek, WY?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 45 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 82222 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Theedle at the center of ZIP 82222: loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Lance Creek, WY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 82222 came on Mar 16 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lance Creek, WY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 82222 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).