Frost Dates for 93437 — Vandenberg Afb, California

In the 81% of winters that bring a 32°F night, half of springs at Lompoc, CA see their last 32°F night by January 20; only one in ten is past it by December 16, and one in ten still has one after February 24. Counting the winters with no freeze at all, the risk of a 32°F night after February 24 is under 8% and after January 20 41%. 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 19 in half of years, as early as November 27 one year in ten, and holds off past January 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F is less common: it came in 27% of winters. The freeze-free season lasts 335 days in a typical year, longer than at 86% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 365 days one year in ten and falls short of 294 one year in ten. On average 4 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 39 days longer, to about February 28, and return around December 1. A 24°F night is unusual: 2% of winters had one.

September is the warmest month at Lompoc, CA, averaging 75°F by day and 55°F at night; December is the coldest at 63°F and 42°F. From March to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,461 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 73% of the 283 California stations. 40% of them (1,389) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 454. Precipitation totals 15.5 inches a year, most in February (3.7") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 3% of it.

The nearest other station, Santa Maria Public Airport, CA, 12 miles northeast of Vandenberg Afb and 167 feet higher, has a last frost 15 days later (February 4), a first frost 6 days earlier (December 13), a season 20 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Lompoc, CA, 7.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93437 is 7 miles from Lompoc, CA, which stands at 75 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 93436 (Lompoc). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93437 in zone 10a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 30 to 35°F (-1.1 to 1.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.