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

Planting zone for 98532 — Chehalis, WA

ZIP code 98532 (Chehalis, Lewis County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 98532 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 22
First frostOct 27
2012 zone8b

Was 8b on the 2012 map — half a zone colder now. 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 Chehalis, 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 Chehalis, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 23 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Centralia, WA — 8 miles away, elevation 184 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 98532

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 98532 came on Feb 24 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 24).

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 Chehalis, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98532 is Eld — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Eld-Fordprairie complex, 0 to 12 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 98532; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chehalis, WA

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights48nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,943base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 51 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation54 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall4 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 34 °F 46°34° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 34 °F 50°34° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 36 °F 54°36° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 37 °F 51°37° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 34 °F 45°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 8.49 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 8.5❄2 JanFebruary: 5.72 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 5.7❄1 FebMarch: 6.37 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 6.4❄1 MarApril: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 2.58 in precipitation 2.6 MayJune: 1.46 in precipitation 1.5 JunJuly: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 AugSeptember: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 OctNovember: 8.57 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 8.6 NovDecember: 9.07 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 9.1❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Centralia, WA (8 mi away); precipitation: Doty 3 E, WA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

985228b
Adna, WA · <1 mi
985658a
Napavine, WA · 8 mi
985448b
Galvin, WA · 8 mi
985968a
Winlock, WA · 10 mi
985398a
Doty, WA · 10 mi
985318b
Centralia, WA · 11 mi
985388a
Curtis, WA · 11 mi
985798b
Rochester, WA · 12 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98532

What planting zone is ZIP code 98532?

ZIP code 98532 (Chehalis, 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 Chehalis, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98532 is April 22; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Centralia station.

When is the first frost in Chehalis, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98532 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98532?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 25 – Mar 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 29 – May 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98532 get?

About 54 inches of precipitation a year and 4 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Doty 3 E station).

How hot do summers get in Chehalis, WA?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98532 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Eld at the center of ZIP 98532: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Chehalis, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98532 came on Feb 24 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chehalis, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98532 is 15 h 51 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 98532 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 98532 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.