Frost Dates for 92314 — Big Bear City, California

Half of springs at Big Bear Lake, CA see their last 32°F night by May 27; only one in ten is past it by May 6, and one in ten still has one after June 9. Planting tender crops after June 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 5 20%, and after June 9 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the narrowest of the 220 California stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 4 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around October 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 27, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 131 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 154 days one year in ten and falls short of 109 one year in ten. On average 176 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 13 days longer, to about June 9, and return around September 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 6.

July is the warmest month at Big Bear Lake, CA, averaging 80°F by day and 51°F at night; February is the coldest at 46°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,644 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 96% of the 283 California stations. 25% of them (413) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 468. Precipitation totals 20.1 inches a year, most in January (4.5") and least in June (0.2"); May to September bring 12% of it.

The nearest other station, Lake Arrowhead, CA, 19 miles west of Big Bear City and 1,548 feet lower, has a last frost 22 days earlier (May 5), a first frost 29 days later (November 2), a season 45 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Big Bear City usually arrives around November 29, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Big Bear Lake, CA, 3.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 45 days after the last snow.

ZIP 92314 is 4 miles from Big Bear Lake, CA, which stands at 6,753 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 92314 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.