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

Planting zone for 98544 — Galvin, WA

ZIP code 98544 (Galvin, Lewis County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 98544 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 22
First frostOct 27
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 Galvin, 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 Galvin, 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 — 4 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 98544

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 98544 came on Feb 23 — 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).

Native plants for zone 8b in Washington

614 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 32

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 114

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 293

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 Galvin, WA.

Soil in Galvin, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98544 is Maytown — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if protected from flooding or not frequently flooded during the growing seasonUSDA classification

Map unit: Maytown-Rennie complex, 0 to 10 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 98544; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Galvin, 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 32 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

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

0″2″4″6″January: 5.85 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 FebMarch: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 2.44 in precipitation 2.4 MayJune: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 JunJuly: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 AugSeptember: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 6.53 in precipitation 6.5 NovDecember: 6.44 in precipitation 6.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Centralia, WA (4 mi away); precipitation: Centralia, WA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

985798b
Rochester, WA · 6 mi
985318b
Centralia, WA · 6 mi
985228b
Adna, WA · 8 mi
985328a
Chehalis, WA · 8 mi
985308b
Bucoda, WA · 9 mi
985568a
Littlerock, WA · 11 mi
985658a
Napavine, WA · 12 mi
985898b
Tenino, WA · 13 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98544

What planting zone is ZIP code 98544?

ZIP code 98544 (Galvin, 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 Galvin, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98544 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 Galvin, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98544 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98544?

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 98544 get?

About 41.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Centralia station).

How hot do summers get in Galvin, 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 98544 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Maytown at the center of ZIP 98544: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Galvin, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98544 came on Feb 23 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 Galvin, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98544 is 15 h 51 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).