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

Planting zone for 98014 — Carnation, WA

ZIP code 98014 (Carnation, King County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost November 10.

Where ZIP 98014 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostApr 13
First frostNov 10
2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Carnation, WA…

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 Carnation, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 24
Growing season210 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 14 and returns around November 28.

From the NOAA station Tolt S Fk Rsvr, WA — 7 miles away, elevation 2,001 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 98014

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 13) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 98014 came on Mar 2 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 28).

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).

Soil in Carnation, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98014 is Tokul — slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Tokul gravelly medial loam, 8 to 15 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 98014; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Carnation, WA

Summer high72 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, December
Hot days3days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights77nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,484base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation104.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall55 inper year; 40 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 33 °F 41°33° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 33 °F 43°33° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 34 °F 46°34° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 37 °F 52°37° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 44 °F 61°44° MayJune: average high 65 °F, low 49 °F 65°49° JunJuly: average high 72 °F, low 54 °F 72°54° JulAugust: average high 72 °F, low 54 °F 72°54° AugSeptember: average high 66 °F, low 50 °F 66°50° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 43 °F 55°43° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 36 °F 45°36° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 32 °F 40°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″14″January: 13.63 in precipitation, 12 in snowfall 13.6❄12 JanFebruary: 9.22 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 9.2❄9 FebMarch: 11.47 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 11.5❄10 MarApril: 9.67 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 9.7❄5 AprMay: 6.94 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 6.9 MayJune: 6.06 in precipitation 6.1 JunJuly: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 2.41 in precipitation 2.4 AugSeptember: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 SepOctober: 10.47 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 10.5 OctNovember: 14.51 in precipitation, 8.2 in snowfall 14.5❄8 NovDecember: 11.84 in precipitation, 10.5 in snowfall 11.8❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tolt S Fk Rsvr, WA (7 mi away); precipitation: Tolt S Fk Rsvr, WA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

980198b
Duvall, WA · 5 mi
980658b
Snoqualmie, WA · 8 mi
980538b
Redmond, WA · 8 mi
980248b
Fall City, WA · 9 mi
982948b
Sultan, WA · 10 mi
980778b
Woodinville, WA · 11 mi
980748b
Sammamish, WA · 11 mi
982728b
Monroe, WA · 11 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98014

What planting zone is ZIP code 98014?

ZIP code 98014 (Carnation, WA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Carnation, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98014 is April 13; after May 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tolt S Fk Rsvr station.

When is the first frost in Carnation, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98014 is November 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 210 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98014?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 16 – Mar 2 and set transplants outside around Apr 20 – May 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98014 get?

About 104.3 inches of precipitation a year and 55 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tolt S Fk Rsvr station).

How hot do summers get in Carnation, WA?

The average high peaks at 72 °F in July, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98014 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tokul at the center of ZIP 98014: slightly decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 4.5 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Carnation, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98014 came on Mar 2 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Carnation, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98014 is 16 h 00 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).