Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 93245 — Lemoore, California

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Lemoore Reeves NAS, CA (232 ft), 8 miles west.

Updated

In Lemoore, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 24 in half of years and has passed by March 30 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 22, as early as November 3 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 265 days (NOAA, Lemoore Reeves NAS, CA).

Last spring frost
February 24

50% probability

First fall frost
November 22

50% probability

Growing season
265 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
0%

0 of 20 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Lemoore

Half of springs at Lemoore Reeves NAS, CA see their last 32°F night by February 24; only one in ten is past it by January 21, and one in ten still has one after March 30. Planting tender crops after March 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 17 20%, and after March 30 10%. The 34 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 65% 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 22 in half of years, as early as November 3 one year in ten, and holds off past December 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around December 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 25, 33 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 265 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 308 days one year in ten and falls short of 230 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 37 days longer, to about April 2, and return around November 8. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 56% of winters and 16°F in 2%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 28Mar 10Mar 19Mar 27Apr 2Apr 7Apr 11Apr 17Apr 23
32°FJan 21Feb 2Feb 10Feb 17Feb 24Mar 1Mar 8Mar 17Mar 30
28°F93% of yrsDec 19Dec 30Jan 6Jan 12Jan 20Jan 28Feb 3Feb 13Feb 25
24°F56% of yrsDec 5Dec 15Dec 20Dec 26Dec 31Jan 2Jan 9Jan 16Jan 28
20°F17% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F2% 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 24Oct 29Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 19Nov 25
32°FNov 3Nov 9Nov 13Nov 18Nov 22Nov 26Nov 30Dec 4Dec 10
28°F93% of yrsNov 19Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 4Dec 9Dec 15Dec 26Jan 8
24°F56% of yrsNov 28Dec 1Dec 5Dec 9Dec 15Dec 19Dec 25Jan 1Jan 11
20°F17% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F2% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Lemoore Reeves NAS, 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 93245 →Compare Lemoore with another place →

Weather by month in Lemoore

July is the warmest month at Lemoore Reeves NAS, CA, averaging 98°F by day and 63°F at night; December is the coldest at 56°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 71% of years and March still brings one in 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,150 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 283 California stations. 38% of them (1,963) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 941. Precipitation totals 7.1 inches a year, most in January (1.5") and least in June (0.0"); May to September bring 6% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lemoore Reeves NAS, CA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan56371.591%824
Feb63391.371%472
Mar69431.436%1203
Apr76460.59%<1331
May85530.40%0580
Jun92580.00%0753
Jul98630.00%0941
Aug97610.00%0896
Sep92570.00%0734
Oct81490.47%<1462
Nov67400.569%4131
Dec56361.193%1124

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lemoore Reeves NAS, CA (232 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, 9 miles east of Lemoore, has a last frost 17 days earlier (February 7), a first frost 9 days later (December 1), a season 31 days longer.

Frost dates for 93230 (Hanford) →

When it snows in Lemoore, California

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Hanford 1 S, CA, 9.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 93245

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Lemoore, California
WhenWhat to do
December 16 – December 30Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
December 30 – January 13Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
January 27 – February 10Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
February 24 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 30Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 8Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 22 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 93245 is 8 miles from Lemoore Reeves NAS, CA, which stands at 232 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 93245 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