Frost Dates for 92285 — Landers, California

Half of springs at Johnson Valley, CA see their last 32°F night by March 1; only one in ten is past it by January 24, and one in ten still has one after March 29. Planting tender crops after March 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 19 20%, and after March 29 10%. The 28 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 60% of the 220 California stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 29 in half of years, as early as November 11 one year in ten, and holds off past December 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 28, 29 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 271 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 308 days one year in ten and falls short of 236 one year in ten. On average 28 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 27 days longer, to about March 28, and return around November 16. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 64% of winters and 16°F in 1%.

July is the warmest month at Johnson Valley, CA, averaging 97°F by day and 69°F at night; December is the coldest at 55°F and 35°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 74% of years and March still brings one in 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,445 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 78% of the 283 California stations. 36% of them (1,987) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,031.

The nearest other station, Yucca Mesa, CA, 7 miles south of Landers and 278 feet higher, has a last frost 13 days earlier (February 16), a first frost 11 days later (December 10), a season 25 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Twentynine Palms, CA, 26.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 92285 is 6 miles from Johnson Valley, CA, which stands at 3,167 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 92285 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.