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

Planting zone for 98571 — Pacific Beach, WA

ZIP code 98571 (Pacific Beach, Grays Harbor County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 98571 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 22
2012 zone8b

Was 8b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pacific Beach, 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 Pacific Beach, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season180 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 27 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Humptulips Salmon Hatchery, WA — 10 miles away, elevation 141 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 98571

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 98571 came on Feb 2 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15).

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 Pacific Beach, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98571 is Mopang — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter12.5%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mopang silt loam, cool, 5 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 98571; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pacific Beach, WA

Summer high70 °Faverage high, August
Winter low34 °Faverage low, February
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights73nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,176base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation115.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 35 °F 45°35° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 34 °F 48°34° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 35 °F 51°35° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 38 °F 55°38° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 42 °F 61°42° MayJune: average high 64 °F, low 47 °F 64°47° JunJuly: average high 69 °F, low 50 °F 69°50° JulAugust: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 41 °F 58°41° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 36 °F 49°36° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 34 °F 44°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″14″16″18″January: 18.69 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 18.7❄1 JanFebruary: 11.34 in precipitation 11.3 FebMarch: 13.23 in precipitation 13.2 MarApril: 8.65 in precipitation 8.7 AprMay: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 AugSeptember: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 SepOctober: 11.24 in precipitation 11.2 OctNovember: 18.30 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 18.3 NovDecember: 17.39 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 17.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Humptulips Salmon Hatchery, WA (10 mi away); precipitation: Humptulips Salmon Hatchery, WA (10 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.

985629a
Moclips, WA · 2 mi
985369a
Copalis Crossing, WA · 4 mi
985359a
Copalis Beach, WA · 8 mi
985878b
Taholah, WA · 9 mi
985528b
Humptulips, WA · 14 mi
985508b
Hoquiam, WA · 14 mi
985699a
Ocean Shores, WA · 15 mi
985668b
Neilton, WA · 18 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98571

What planting zone is ZIP code 98571?

ZIP code 98571 (Pacific Beach, WA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Pacific Beach, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98571 is April 26; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Humptulips Salmon Hatchery station.

When is the first frost in Pacific Beach, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98571 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 180 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98571?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98571 get?

About 115.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Humptulips Salmon Hatchery station).

How hot do summers get in Pacific Beach, WA?

The average high peaks at 70 °F in August, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98571 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mopang at the center of ZIP 98571: silt loam, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Pacific Beach, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98571 came on Feb 2 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pacific Beach, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98571 is 15 h 56 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 98571 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 98571 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.