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

Planting zone for 98266 — Maple Falls, WA

ZIP code 98266 (Maple Falls, Whatcom County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 98266 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 18
First frostOct 18
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Maple Falls, 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 Maple Falls, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season185 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 18 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Clearbrook, WA — 13 miles away, elevation 66 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 98266

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 98266 came on Mar 27 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6).

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 8a in Washington

611 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 31

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigleaf maple60 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −14 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Shrubs 113

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 292

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 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 157

Alaska brome5 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −18 °FAlaska 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 timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Maple Falls, WA.

Soil in Maple Falls, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98266 is Typic Cryorthods — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter7.5%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Typic Cryorthods-Rock outcrop, 60 to 90 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 98266; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Maple Falls, WA

Summer high77 °Faverage high, August
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights57nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,712base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation72.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 32 °F 44°32° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 33 °F 48°33° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 36 °F 53°36° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° JunJuly: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 42 °F 59°42° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 36 °F 49°36° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 32 °F 43°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″January: 9.09 in precipitation 9.1 JanFebruary: 5.68 in precipitation 5.7 FebMarch: 7.61 in precipitation 7.6 MarApril: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 AugSeptember: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 SepOctober: 6.79 in precipitation 6.8 OctNovember: 11.58 in precipitation 11.6 NovDecember: 9.43 in precipitation 9.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Clearbrook, WA (13 mi away); precipitation: Maple Falls 1.1 Ene, WA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

982958a
Sumas, WA · 7 mi
982768a
Nooksack, WA · 13 mi
982478a
Everson, WA · 14 mi
982448a
Deming, WA · 15 mi
982648a
Lynden, WA · 19 mi
982208a
Acme, WA · 21 mi
982268a
Bellingham, WA · 22 mi
982298a
Bellingham, WA · 25 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98266

What planting zone is ZIP code 98266?

ZIP code 98266 (Maple Falls, WA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Maple Falls, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98266 is April 18; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clearbrook station.

When is the first frost in Maple Falls, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98266 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 185 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98266?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98266 get?

About 72.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Maple Falls 1.1 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Maple Falls, WA?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in August, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98266 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Typic Cryorthods at the center of ZIP 98266: loam, well drained, pH about 5.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Maple Falls, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98266 came on Mar 27 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Maple Falls, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98266 is 16 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).