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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 92539 — Anza, California

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA (5,380 ft), 14 miles north.

Updated

In Anza, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 16 in half of years and has passed by June 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 24, as early as October 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 160 days (NOAA, Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA).

Last spring frost
May 16

50% probability

First fall frost
October 24

50% probability

Growing season
160 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
7%

1 of 15 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Anza

Half of springs at Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA see their last 32°F night by May 16; only one in ten is past it by April 23, and one in ten still has one after June 5. Planting tender crops after May 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 31 20%, and after June 5 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 88% of the 220 California stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 24 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 19, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 160 days in a typical year, shorter than at 89% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 191 days one year in ten and falls short of 131 one year in ten. On average 107 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 16 days longer, to about June 1, and return around October 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 57%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMay 14May 21May 26May 30Jun 1Jun 3Jun 7Jun 11Jun 19
32°FApr 23Apr 29May 5May 11May 16May 21May 27May 31Jun 5
28°FMar 31Apr 7Apr 13Apr 19Apr 24Apr 28May 3May 10May 19
24°FMar 1Mar 7Mar 16Mar 23Mar 31Apr 5Apr 12Apr 21May 3
20°F96% of yrsJan 4Jan 22Feb 4Feb 16Feb 25Mar 3Mar 8Mar 20Apr 6
16°F57% of yrsDec 23Jan 3Jan 10Jan 21Feb 1Feb 9Feb 16Feb 25Mar 4
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 17Sep 24Sep 29Oct 2Oct 6Oct 10Oct 14Oct 18Oct 26
32°FOct 1Oct 9Oct 14Oct 19Oct 24Oct 29Nov 1Nov 6Nov 11
28°FOct 17Oct 28Nov 2Nov 6Nov 10Nov 15Nov 19Nov 25Dec 3
24°FNov 9Nov 16Nov 21Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6Dec 10Dec 15Dec 23
20°F96% of yrsNov 24Dec 2Dec 11Dec 16Dec 22Dec 26Jan 1Jan 11Jan 29
16°F57% of yrsDec 11Dec 21Dec 29Jan 2Jan 10Jan 20Jan 31Feb 13Feb 26

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 92539 →Compare Anza with another place →

Weather by month in Anza

August is the warmest month at Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA, averaging 86°F by day and 55°F at night; December is the coldest at 54°F and 30°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 72% of years and June still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,838 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 283 California stations. 28% of them (789) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 639. Precipitation totals 24.6 inches a year, most in February (5.4") and least in June (0.1"); May to September bring 11% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan55314.7100%2114
Feb55305.4100%1816
Mar59323.3100%1632
Apr64351.799%1181
May71410.772%4221
Jun80480.118%1425
Jul85550.50%0628
Aug86550.60%0639
Sep81500.89%<1465
Oct72421.264%3237
Nov62351.998%1269
Dec54303.7100%2112

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA (5,380 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Palomar Mountain Obsy, CA, 15 miles southwest of Anza and 170 feet higher, has a last frost 17 days earlier (April 29), a first frost 25 days later (November 18), a season 41 days longer.

Frost dates for 92536 (Aguanga) →

When it snows in Anza, California

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 15 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Anza, CA, 0.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 92539

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Anza, California
WhenWhat to do
March 7 – March 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 21 – April 4Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 18 – May 2Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 16 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 1Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 10Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 24 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 92539 is 14 miles from Idyllwild Fire Dept, CA, which stands at 5,380 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 92549 (Idyllwild). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 92539 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across California →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8b places in California