Chill hours in Yakima, Washington: the last 10 winters
Ten seasons of winter chill for Yakima, Washington (46.6021, -120.5059), calculated from NASA POWER hourly temperatures across 2016–17 to 2025–26. Instead of comparing winters yourself or hunting for the nearest weather station, the three standard models for fruit trees and berries are already worked out below.
How the last season compared
The 2025–26 season delivered 1434 chill hours, 211 above the ten-season average of 1223. That is a difference of 17%. It was the third-highest of the ten seasons recorded here. Chill portions, which discount warm spells differently, came to 121.6 against a ten-season average of 109.8.
Ten-season average, low, and high
| Model | Average | Lowest season | Highest season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45°F Hours Hours between 0 and 7.2°C (32–45°F). | 1223.4 hours | 836.0 | 1553.0 |
| Utah Weighted bands; warm hours subtract from the total. | 777.4 units | 527.5 | 1074.0 |
| Dynamic Fishman–Erez model; handles warm spells. | 109.8 portions | 90.0 | 125.6 |
45°F Hours and Utah are counted over 1 November – 28 February, following the UC Davis convention. Dynamic is counted over 1 September – 31 March.
Season by season
| Season | 45°F Hours | Utah units | Chill portions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | 836 | 562.0 | 96.0 |
| 2017–18 | 1307 | 770.5 | 118.0 |
| 2018–19 | 1128 | 614.0 | 105.9 |
| 2019–20 | 1553 | 1054.0 | 125.6 |
| 2020–21 | 1360 | 825.0 | 111.6 |
| 2021–22 | 1142 | 868.0 | 112.6 |
| 2022–23 | 1010 | 527.5 | 90.0 |
| 2023–24 | 1445 | 901.0 | 110.2 |
| 2024–25 | 1019 | 578.0 | 106.1 |
| 2025–26 | 1434 | 1074.0 | 121.6 |
Which fruit varieties suit Yakima?
The 3 most chill-demanding varieties that still fit an average of 1223 chill hours here.
| Variety | Species | Chill requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Rome Beauty | Apple | 1000 hours |
| Reliance | Peach | 1000 hours |
| McIntosh | Apple | 900 hours |
Station data for Washington
NASA POWER is a grid estimate. For measured station data and local chill guidance, see Washington State University: the importance of chilling temperatures for fruit trees.
Nearby locations
- Wenatchee, Washington — 93 km
- Hood River, Oregon — 127 km
- Kelowna, British Columbia — 373 km
Track this season in ChillCast
ChillCast tracks this season's chill for Yakima, Washington on your iPhone and compares it with the ten-season average above.
Generated
This page was generated on 2026-09-06.
About this data
Values are NASA POWER regional estimates (about 0.5° grid), not orchard measurements. Check your local extension service for station data.
Source: NASA POWER hourly 2-metre air temperature (MERRA-2). NASA does not endorse ChillCast.