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

Planting zone for 98942 — Selah, WA

ZIP code 98942 (Selah, Yakima County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 98942 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostMay 5
First frostOct 4
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Selah, 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 Selah, WA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Selah 2 Ne, WA — 12 miles away, elevation 1,119 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 98942

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 98942 came on Mar 23 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 7a in Washington

590 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Washington, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 31

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 105

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 282

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 Selah, WA.

Soil in Selah, WA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 98942 is Lickskillet — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lickskillet very stony silt loam, 5 to 45 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 98942; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Selah, WA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, December
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,371base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 52 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)
Precipitation8.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 22 °F 37°22° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 28 °F 54°28° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 34 °F 62°34° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 43 °F 72°43° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 48 °F 79°48° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 54 °F 88°54° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 52 °F 87°52° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 44 °F 78°44° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 34 °F 64°34° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 21 °F 37°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.07 in precipitation 1.1 JanFebruary: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 JunJuly: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.16 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 NovDecember: 1.36 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Selah 2 Ne, WA (12 mi away); precipitation: Selah 2 Ne, WA (12 mi away). 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.

989237a
Cowiche, WA · 10 mi
989477a
Tieton, WA · 10 mi
989087a
Yakima, WA · 12 mi
989077a
Yakima, WA · 13 mi
989027a
Yakima, WA · 15 mi
989097a
Yakima, WA · 16 mi
989047a
Yakima, WA · 16 mi
989346b
Kittitas, WA · 17 mi

Washington planting zones →

Questions about 98942

What planting zone is ZIP code 98942?

ZIP code 98942 (Selah, WA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Selah, WA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 98942 is May 5; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Selah 2 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Selah, WA?

The median first fall frost near 98942 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 98942?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 98942 get?

About 8.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Selah 2 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Selah, WA?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 39 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 98942 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lickskillet at the center of ZIP 98942: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Selah, WA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 98942 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Selah, WA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 98942 is 15 h 52 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 98942 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 98942 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.