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

Planting zone for 98621 — Grays River, WA

ZIP code 98621 (Grays River, Wahkiakum County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 98621 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 27
First frostOct 22
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 Grays River, 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 Grays River, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season178 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 25 and returns around November 12.

From the NOAA station Grays Rvr Hatchery, WA — within 1 mile, elevation 102 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 98621

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
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 27) 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 98621 came on Feb 3 — 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2).

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 Grays River, WA.

Soil in Grays River, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98621 is Lytell — medial silt loam, well drained.

TextureMedial silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter12.5%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Lytell silt loam, 8 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 98621; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Grays River, WA

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low33 °Faverage low, February
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights78nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,753base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation103.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 34 °F 50°34° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 46 °F 74°46° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 34 °F 49°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″14″16″January: 16.73 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 16.7❄2 JanFebruary: 10.06 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 10.1 FebMarch: 11.63 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 11.6 MarApril: 8.13 in precipitation 8.1 AprMay: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 JulAugust: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 10.22 in precipitation 10.2 OctNovember: 15.24 in precipitation 15.2 NovDecember: 16.27 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 16.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Grays Rvr Hatchery, WA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Grays Rvr Hatchery, WA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

986478b
Skamokawa, WA · 9 mi
986438b
Rosburg, WA · 9 mi
986388b
Naselle, WA · 10 mi
985548b
Lebam, WA · 11 mi
985728a
Pe Ell, WA · 14 mi
986128b
Cathlamet, WA · 16 mi
985618b
Menlo, WA · 16 mi
985778a
Raymond, WA · 17 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98621

What planting zone is ZIP code 98621?

ZIP code 98621 (Grays River, 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 Grays River, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98621 is April 27; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grays Rvr Hatchery station.

When is the first frost in Grays River, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98621 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 178 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98621?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98621 get?

About 103.5 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grays Rvr Hatchery station).

How hot do summers get in Grays River, WA?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98621 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lytell at the center of ZIP 98621: medial silt loam, well drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Grays River, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98621 came on Feb 3 in 2026, 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Grays River, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98621 is 15 h 49 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).