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

Planting zone for 99697 — Kodiak, AK

ZIP code 99697 (Kodiak, Kodiak Island County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 99697 is

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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 14
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Kodiak, AK…

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 Kodiak, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season168 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Kodiak Wwtp, AK — 2 miles away, elevation 56 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 99697

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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.

Native plants for zone 7b in Alaska

289 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 16

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack spruce65 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −79 °Flodgepole pine99 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −70 °Fmountain hemlock125 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −18 °FPacific silver fir165 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Shrubs 50

alpine bearberry0.5 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack crowberry1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack hawthorn15 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbog blueberry2 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 125

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine aster0.3 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Grasses 89

Alaska brome5 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −18 °FAlaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Farctic bluegrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low 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 Kodiak, AK.

Soil in Kodiak, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99697 is Kodiak — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Kodiak-Izhut complex, 0 to 15 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 99697; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kodiak, AK

Summer high61 °Faverage high, August
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights121nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days435base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day18 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day6 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation75.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall43 inper year; 59 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 27 °F 36°27° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 28 °F 37°28° FebMarch: average high 38 °F, low 28 °F 38°28° MarApril: average high 43 °F, low 34 °F 43°34° AprMay: average high 50 °F, low 40 °F 50°40° MayJune: average high 55 °F, low 45 °F 55°45° JunJuly: average high 60 °F, low 50 °F 60°50° JulAugust: average high 61 °F, low 50 °F 61°50° AugSeptember: average high 55 °F, low 45 °F 55°45° SepOctober: average high 47 °F, low 38 °F 47°38° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 32 °F 41°32° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 28 °F 37°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 7.91 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 7.9❄11 JanFebruary: 6.03 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 6.0❄6 FebMarch: 5.11 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 5.1❄9 MarApril: 5.61 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 5.6❄3 AprMay: 5.40 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 5.4 MayJune: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.98 in precipitation 5.0 AugSeptember: 7.25 in precipitation 7.3 SepOctober: 8.33 in precipitation 8.3 OctNovember: 7.10 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 7.1❄6 NovDecember: 8.26 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 8.3❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kodiak Wwtp, AK (2 mi away); precipitation: Kodiak Wwtp, AK (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 7 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

996197b
Kodiak, AK · <1 mi
996447b
Ouzinkie, AK · 8 mi
995507a
Port Lions, AK · 17 mi
996157a
Kodiak, AK · 37 mi
996437b
Old Harbor, AK · 52 mi
996247b
Larsen Bay, AK · 57 mi
996636b
Seldovia, AK · 115 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Kodiak → · Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99697

What planting zone is ZIP code 99697?

ZIP code 99697 (Kodiak, AK) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Kodiak, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99697 is April 29; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kodiak Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Kodiak, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99697 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 168 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99697?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99697 get?

About 75.6 inches of precipitation a year and 43 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kodiak Wwtp station).

How hot do summers get in Kodiak, AK?

The average high peaks at 61 °F in August, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99697 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kodiak at the center of ZIP 99697: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Kodiak, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99697 is 18 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99697 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99697 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.