U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00040379 · California

Frost Dates for Auberry, CA

NOAA weather station Auberry 2 NW (USC00040379), California · elevation 2090 ft (637 m) · hardiness zone 9a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 22only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2550% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostDecember 350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season253 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone9acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Auberry, CASpring: a frost after February 5 in 9 years out of 10, after March 25 in half of the years, after April 22 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 14 in 1 year out of 10, before December 3 in half of the years, before December 21 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 253 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 25First frost ~Dec 3Frost season at Auberry, CASpring: a frost after February 5 in 9 years out of 10, after March 25 in half of the years, after April 22 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 14 in 1 year out of 10, before December 3 in half of the years, before December 21 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 253 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 25First frost ~Dec 3
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 22November 14
50% (typical)March 25December 3
90% (likely)February 5December 21
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
253 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
January 29
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
December 17

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 26 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost December 4 (1 day later). Frost-free season 255 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Auberry: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 22, 20% April 13, 30% April 7, 40% April 1, 50% March 25, 60% March 15, 70% March 4, 80% February 20, 90% February 5.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Feb 1Mar 1Apr 1May 1Apr 22Mar 25Feb 5Fall at Auberry: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% November 14, 20% November 21, 30% November 25, 40% November 29, 50% December 3, 60% December 6, 70% December 9, 80% December 14, 90% December 21.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1Nov 14Dec 3Dec 21
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there.

What these dates mean

April 22 is the cautious spring date in Auberry, carrying a 10% chance of a frost later than this day and serving as the point when a gardener can set out tender crops with minimal risk. The 50% date is March 25, a 50% chance of a frost later than this date. The 50% hard-frost date is January 29, when there is a 50% chance of a 28 °F frost.

In the fall, November 14 is the cautious date, with only a 10% chance of a frost earlier than this day, and it marks the latest reliable time to finish harvesting tender crops. The 50% date is December 3, a 50% chance of a frost earlier than this date. The 50% hard-frost date is December 17, when there is a 50% chance of a 28 °F frost. A hard frost at 28 °F can damage or kill plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 22" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before November 14" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Auberry, CANumbered nearest stations: 1 — Lodgepole, CA — 55 mi; 2 — Lee Vining, CA — 64 mi; 3 — Cherry Valley Dam, CA — 65 mi; 4 — Bishop, CA — 66 mi; 5 — near Corcoran, CA — 69 mi.NV50 mi · 80 km1. Lodgepole, CA — 55 mi12. Lee Vining, CA — 64 mi23. Cherry Valley Dam, CA — 65 mi34. Bishop, CA — 66 mi45. near Corcoran, CA — 69 mi5
  1. Lodgepole, CA 55 mi (88 km)
  2. Lee Vining, CA 64 mi (102 km)
  3. Cherry Valley Dam, CA 65 mi (104 km)
  4. Bishop, CA 66 mi (107 km)
  5. near Corcoran, CA 69 mi (111 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 9a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 37.0919, -119.5128.