Frost Dates for 93309 — Bakersfield, California

Half of springs at Bakersfield 5 NW, CA see their last 32°F night by January 31; only one in ten is past it by December 31, and one in ten still has one after February 27. Planting tender crops after February 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after February 20 20%, and after February 27 10%. The 27 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower 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 December 8 in half of years, as early as November 23 one year in ten, and holds off past January 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around December 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 1, 26 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 312 days in a typical year, longer than at 70% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 345 days one year in ten and falls short of 278 one year in ten. On average 17 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 30 days longer, to about March 2, and return around November 26. A 24°F night is unusual: 19% of winters had one.

July is the warmest month at Bakersfield 5 NW, CA, averaging 97°F by day and 70°F at night; December is the coldest at 59°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 46% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,799 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 86% of the 283 California stations. 38% of them (2,175) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,045. Precipitation totals 6.5 inches a year, most in January (1.3") and least in June (0.0"); May to September bring 6% of it.

The nearest other station, Bakersfield Airport, CA, 6 miles north of Bakersfield, has a last frost 14 days earlier (January 17), a first frost 7 days later (December 15), a season 22 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 30 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Bakersfield Airport, CA, 6.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93309 is 5 miles from Bakersfield 5 NW, CA, which stands at 470 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 93307 (Bakersfield). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93309 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.