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

Planting zone for 99764 — Northway, AK

ZIP code 99764 (Northway, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area County) is in USDA zone 2a: the coldest winter night averages −50 to −45 °F. The median last spring frost is May 26 and the first fall frost September 1.

Where ZIP 99764 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 26
First frostSep 1
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 Northway, 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 Northway, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 1median — 10% chance by Aug 18
Growing season97 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 13 and returns around September 13.

From the NOAA station Northway Airport, AK — 19 miles away, elevation 1,713 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 99764

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 14 – May 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 5 – May 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 9 – Jun 23
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 7 – Jul 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 18 – Sep 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 26) and first fall frost (Sep 1) 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 Northway, AK.

Soil in Northway, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99764 is E28-boreal taiga-silty frozen loess slopes — peat, poorly drained.

TexturePeattop layer
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Interior Alaska Mountains-Boreal Upland-Rounded Mountains.

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 99764; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Northway, AK

Summer high72 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights242nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days764base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day20 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day4 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation11.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall43 inper year; 193 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 -4 °F, low -22 °F −4°−22° JanFebruary: average high 8 °F, low -16 °F 8°−16° FebMarch: average high 25 °F, low -8 °F 25°−8° MarApril: average high 45 °F, low 17 °F 45°17° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 34 °F 61°34° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° JunJuly: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° JulAugust: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° AugSeptember: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° SepOctober: average high 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° OctNovember: average high 8 °F, low -9 °F 8°−9° NovDecember: average high -2 °F, low -19 °F −2°−19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.31 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 0.3❄6 JanFebruary: 0.24 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.2❄5 FebMarch: 0.15 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 0.1❄4 MarApril: 0.22 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 0.2❄1 AprMay: 0.98 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 1.0❄2 MayJune: 2.26 in precipitation 2.3 JunJuly: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 1.79 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.06 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 1.1❄2 SepOctober: 0.53 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 0.5❄6 OctNovember: 0.51 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 0.5❄10 NovDecember: 0.30 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 0.3❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Northway Airport, AK (19 mi away); precipitation: Northway Airport, AK (19 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 4 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

997802a
Tok, AK · 67 mi
997761b
Tanacross, AK · 69 mi
997321b
Chicken, AK · 96 mi
995664b
Chitina, AK · 101 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99764

What planting zone is ZIP code 99764?

ZIP code 99764 (Northway, 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 Northway, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99764 is May 26; after June 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Northway Airport station.

When is the first frost in Northway, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99764 is September 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 97 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99764?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 31 – Apr 14 and set transplants outside around Jun 2 – Jun 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99764 get?

About 11.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Northway Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Northway, AK?

The average high peaks at 72 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99764 have?

The USDA soil survey maps E28-boreal taiga-silty frozen loess slopes at the center of ZIP 99764: peat, poorly drained.

What kind of onions grow in Northway, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99764 is 20 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99764 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99764 in zone 1b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 2a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.