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

Planting zone for 98665 — Vancouver, WA

ZIP code 98665 (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 98665 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 — within 1 mile, 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 98665

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 98665 came on Feb 19 — 3 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).

Soil in Vancouver, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98665 is Hillsboro — 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 matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hillsboro silt loam, 0 to 3 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 98665; 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 43 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)
Precipitation42.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

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 · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″January: 6.05 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 6.0❄1 JanFebruary: 4.14 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 FebMarch: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 MarApril: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 MayJune: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 JulAugust: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 AugSeptember: 1.61 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 6.31 in precipitation 6.3 NovDecember: 6.79 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 6.8 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

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

Questions about 98665

What planting zone is ZIP code 98665?

ZIP code 98665 (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 98665 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 98665 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 177 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98665?

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 98665 get?

About 42.3 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vancouver 4 Nne 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 98665 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hillsboro at the center of ZIP 98665: silt loam, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Vancouver, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98665 came on Feb 19 in 2026, 3 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 98665 is 15 h 43 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).