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

Planting zone for 98663 — Vancouver, WA

ZIP code 98663 (Vancouver, Clark County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 98663 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 26
First frostOct 18
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 Vancouver, 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 Vancouver, 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 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season177 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Vancouver 4 Nne, WA — 2 miles away, elevation 210 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 98663

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 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 26) 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 98663 came on Feb 18 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22).

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 Vancouver, WA.

Soil in Vancouver, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98663 is Wind River variant — sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wind River sandy loam, 30 to 65 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 98663; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Vancouver, WA

Summer high79 °Faverage high, August
Winter low32 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights66nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,916base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 32 °F 45°32° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 52 °F 79°52° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 36 °F 51°36° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 32 °F 45°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.44 in precipitation 6.4 JanFebruary: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 FebMarch: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 MarApril: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 JunJuly: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 AugSeptember: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 OctNovember: 6.42 in precipitation 6.4 NovDecember: 7.21 in precipitation 7.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vancouver 4 Nne, WA (2 mi away); precipitation: Vancouver 1.9 Ne, WA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

986668b
Vancouver, WA · 1 mi
986688b
Vancouver, WA · 1 mi
986878b
Vancouver, WA · 1 mi
986658b
Vancouver, WA · 2 mi
986618b
Vancouver, WA · 2 mi
986608b
Vancouver, WA · 3 mi
972179a
Portland, OR · 4 mi
986858b
Vancouver, WA · 4 mi

All 14 ZIP codes in Vancouver → · Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98663

What planting zone is ZIP code 98663?

ZIP code 98663 (Vancouver, 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 Vancouver, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98663 is April 26; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vancouver 4 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Vancouver, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98663 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 177 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98663?

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 98663 get?

About 44.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vancouver 1.9 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Vancouver, WA?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in August, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98663 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wind River variant at the center of ZIP 98663: sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Vancouver, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98663 came on Feb 18 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Vancouver, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98663 is 15 h 42 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).