Frost Dates for 93204 — Avenal, California

Half of springs at Kettleman City, CA see their last 32°F night by February 19; only one in ten is past it by January 21, and one in ten still has one after March 15. Planting tender crops after March 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 8 20%, and after March 15 10%. The 24 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 74% 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 14 one year in ten, and holds off past December 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around December 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 23, 20 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 281 days in a typical year, longer than at 52% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 314 days one year in ten and falls short of 252 one year in ten. On average 29 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 26 days longer, to about March 17, and return around November 15. A 24°F night is unusual: 49% of winters had one.

July is the warmest month at Kettleman City, CA, averaging 99°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 36°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 70% of years and March still brings one in 32% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,598 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 283 California stations. 37% of them (2,099) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,026. Precipitation totals 7.6 inches a year, most in February (1.5") and least in June (0.0"); May to September bring 8% of it.

The nearest other station, Coalinga, CA, 20 miles northwest of Avenal and 430 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (February 14), a first frost 1 day later (November 30), a season 11 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Coalinga, CA, 20.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93204 is 10 miles from Kettleman City, CA, which stands at 240 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93204 in zone 9b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.