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

Planting zone for 99705 — North Pole, AK

ZIP code 99705 (North Pole, Fairbanks North Star County) is in USDA zone 2a: the coldest winter night averages −50 to −45 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost September 5.

Where ZIP 99705 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.

Zone2a−50 to −45 °F
Coldest night−45.6 to −42.8 °C
Last frostMay 18
First frostSep 5
2012 zone1b

Was 1b 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 2a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for North Pole, 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 North Pole, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 5median — 10% chance by Aug 24
Growing season110 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 7 and returns around September 17.

From the NOAA station N Pole, AK — 2 miles away, elevation 476 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 99705

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 11 – Jul 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 22 – Sep 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Sep 5) 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 2a in Alaska

44 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive −50 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 2a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 8

balsam 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 °Fpaper birch70 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Fquaking aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −70 °Fsubalpine fir90 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −51 °F

Shrubs 16

alpine bearberry0.5 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °Fhalberd willow3 ft · blooms early summer · to −62 °FLapland rosebay3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −62 °Flingonberry0.5 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FMacKenzie's willow45 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −50 °Fmarsh Labrador tea0.5 ft · blooms summer · to −62 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 12

alpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Farctic dock1 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Farctic lupine2 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °Farctic poppy1.5 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −54 °Farctic raspberry1 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Feightpetal mountain-avens0.3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °F

Grasses 6

arctic bluegrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FHoppner's sedge1 ft · high shade tolerance · to −52 °Flargeflower speargrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −52 °Flivid sedge1 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FLyngbye's sedge1 ft · high shade tolerance · to −52 °FRamensk's sedge1 ft · high shade tolerance · to −52 °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 North Pole, AK.

Soil in North Pole, AK

The center of ZIP 99705 is mapped as Water: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 99705; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Pole, AK

Summer high73 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights239nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,006base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day21 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day3 h 44 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation12.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall54 inper year; 192 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−30°−20°−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high -2 °F, low -16 °F −2°−16° JanFebruary: average high 12 °F, low -9 °F 12°−9° FebMarch: average high 26 °F, low 0 °F 26°0° MarApril: average high 46 °F, low 23 °F 46°23° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° JunJuly: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° JulAugust: average high 66 °F, low 47 °F 66°47° AugSeptember: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° SepOctober: average high 33 °F, low 19 °F 33°19° OctNovember: average high 10 °F, low -4 °F 10°−4° NovDecember: average high 2 °F, low -12 °F 2°−12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.48 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 0.5❄9 JanFebruary: 0.44 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 0.4❄7 FebMarch: 0.32 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 0.3❄5 MarApril: 0.34 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 0.3❄2 AprMay: 0.66 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 0.7 MayJune: 1.91 in precipitation 1.9 JunJuly: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 JulAugust: 2.61 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.42 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 1.4❄2 SepOctober: 0.96 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 1.0❄8 OctNovember: 0.61 in precipitation, 11.8 in snowfall 0.6❄12 NovDecember: 0.48 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 0.5❄9 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

997022a
Eielson Afb, AK · 11 mi
997032a
Fort Wainwright, AK · 11 mi
997162a
Two Rivers, AK · 13 mi
997102b
Fairbanks, AK · 14 mi
997112a
Fairbanks, AK · 14 mi
997752b
Fairbanks, AK · 18 mi
997082a
Fairbanks, AK · 21 mi
997253b
Ester, AK · 23 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99705

What planting zone is ZIP code 99705?

ZIP code 99705 (North Pole, AK) is in USDA hardiness zone 2a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −50 to −45 °F (−45.6 to −42.8 °C).

When is the last frost in North Pole, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99705 is May 18; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Pole station.

When is the first frost in North Pole, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99705 is September 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 110 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99705?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99705 get?

About 12.8 inches of precipitation a year and 54 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Pole station).

How hot do summers get in North Pole, AK?

The average high peaks at 73 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of onions grow in North Pole, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99705 is 21 h 46 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99705 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99705 in zone 1b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 2a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.