Frost Dates for 93274 — Tulare, California

Half of springs at Visalia, CA see their last 32°F night by January 23; only one in ten is past it by December 29, and one in ten still has one after February 27. Planting tender crops after February 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after February 10 20%, and after February 27 10%. The 35 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 71% 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 December 13 in half of years, as early as November 27 one year in ten, and holds off past January 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around December 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is January 24, 34 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 328 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 359 days one year in ten and falls short of 289 one year in ten. On average 9 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 35 days longer, to about February 27, and return around November 29. A 24°F night is unusual: 10% of winters had one.

July is the warmest month at Visalia, CA, averaging 94°F by day and 67°F at night; December is the coldest at 55°F and 38°F. From March to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 28% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,138 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 67% of the 283 California stations. 38% of them (1,942) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 938. Precipitation totals 10.4 inches a year, most in January (2.0") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 6% of it.

The nearest other station, Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA, 15 miles southwest of Tulare, has a last frost 23 days later (February 15), a first frost 16 days earlier (November 27), a season 43 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Visalia, CA, 9.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93274 is 9 miles from Visalia, CA, which stands at 303 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93274 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.