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USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 93212 — Corcoran, California

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA (200 ft), 2 miles northwest.

Updated

In Corcoran, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 15 in half of years and has passed by March 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 27, as early as November 12 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 285 days (NOAA, Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA).

Last spring frost
February 15

50% probability

First fall frost
November 27

50% probability

Growing season
285 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
9a

20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
5%

1 of 20 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Corcoran

Half of springs at Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA see their last 32°F night by February 15; only one in ten is past it by January 17, and one in ten still has one after March 10. Planting tender crops after February 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 3 20%, and after March 10 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 78% 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 27 in half of years, as early as November 12 one year in ten, and holds off past December 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 11, 27 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 285 days in a typical year, longer than at 56% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 320 days one year in ten and falls short of 254 one year in ten. On average 21 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 33 days longer, to about March 20, and return around November 12. A 24°F night is unusual: 49% of winters had one.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 19Feb 28Mar 8Mar 13Mar 20Mar 26Apr 2Apr 7Apr 13
32°FJan 17Jan 29Feb 3Feb 9Feb 15Feb 20Feb 26Mar 3Mar 10
28°F93% of yrsDec 18Dec 27Jan 1Jan 8Jan 16Jan 23Jan 29Feb 3Feb 11
24°F49% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F15% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F1% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 29Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 18Nov 21Nov 27
32°FNov 12Nov 17Nov 21Nov 24Nov 27Nov 30Dec 2Dec 6Dec 13
28°F93% of yrsNov 24Nov 29Dec 2Dec 4Dec 8Dec 13Dec 19Dec 28Jan 5
24°F49% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F15% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F1% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Corcoran Irrig Dist, 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 93212 →Compare Corcoran with another place →

Weather by month in Corcoran

July is the warmest month at Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA, averaging 98°F by day and 64°F at night; December 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 66% of years and March still brings one in 23% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,369 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 76% of the 283 California stations. 38% of them (2,061) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 970.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA
MonthHigh °FLow °F32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan563891%727
Feb634066%278
Mar694423%<1213
Apr76472%<1354
May85540%0600
Jun94590%0789
Jul98640%0970
Aug97630%0930
Sep92580%0761
Oct81500%0481
Nov664162%2142
Dec573695%925

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA (200 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, Hanford 1 S, CA, 17 miles north of Corcoran, has a last frost 8 days earlier (February 7), a first frost 4 days later (December 1), a season 11 days longer.

Frost dates for 93230 (Hanford) →

When it snows in Corcoran, California

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA, 1.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 93212

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Corcoran, California
WhenWhat to do
December 7 – December 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
December 21 – January 4Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
January 18 – February 1Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
February 15 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 4Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 13Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 27 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 93212 is 2 miles from Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA, which stands at 200 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 93212 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.

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 9a places in California