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

Planting zone for 99827 — Haines, AK

ZIP code 99827 (Haines, Haines County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 99827 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 10
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — half a zone colder now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Haines, 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 Haines, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Glacier Bay, AK — 28 miles away, elevation 46 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 99827

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 5b in Alaska

282 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 47

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 122

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 88

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 Haines, AK.

Soil in Haines, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99827 is Skarn — moderately decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Skarn-Polkapenn-Kadachan complex, 25 to 90 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 99827; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Haines, AK

Summer high61 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days397base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day18 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day6 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation72.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 26 °F 32°26° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 26 °F 34°26° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 28 °F 37°28° MarApril: average high 46 °F, low 33 °F 46°33° AprMay: average high 54 °F, low 39 °F 54°39° MayJune: average high 59 °F, low 45 °F 59°45° JunJuly: average high 61 °F, low 49 °F 61°49° JulAugust: average high 60 °F, low 48 °F 60°48° AugSeptember: average high 54 °F, low 43 °F 54°43° SepOctober: average high 45 °F, low 37 °F 45°37° OctNovember: average high 37 °F, low 30 °F 37°30° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 27 °F 33°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 6.71 in precipitation 6.7 JanFebruary: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 4.35 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 2.83 in precipitation 2.8 JunJuly: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 5.97 in precipitation 6.0 AugSeptember: 9.16 in precipitation 9.2 SepOctober: 10.16 in precipitation 10.2 OctNovember: 8.51 in precipitation 8.5 NovDecember: 8.95 in precipitation 8.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Glacier Bay, AK (28 mi away); precipitation: Glacier Bay, AK (28 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

998267a
Gustavus, AK · 32 mi
998507a
Juneau, AK · 35 mi
998257a
Elfin Cove, AK · 51 mi
998327a
Pelican, AK · 59 mi
998405a
Skagway, AK · 60 mi
998217a
Auke Bay, AK · 60 mi
998297a
Hoonah, AK · 64 mi
998417a
Tenakee Springs, AK · 65 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99827

What planting zone is ZIP code 99827?

ZIP code 99827 (Haines, AK) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Haines, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99827 is May 6; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Glacier Bay station.

When is the first frost in Haines, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99827 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99827?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99827 get?

About 72.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Glacier Bay station).

How hot do summers get in Haines, AK?

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

What kind of soil does 99827 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Skarn at the center of ZIP 99827: moderately decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Haines, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99827 is 18 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99827 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99827 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.