Frost Dates for 93463 — Solvang, California

Half of springs at Cachuma Lake, CA see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 14, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 26 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 25 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 70% 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 8 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 19 days later, around November 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 32 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 209 days in a typical year, shorter than at 79% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 245 days one year in ten and falls short of 171 one year in ten. On average 19 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 31 days longer, to about May 12, and return around October 17. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 88% of winters and 16°F in 5%.

August is the warmest month at Cachuma Lake, CA, averaging 93°F by day and 49°F at night; December is the coldest at 67°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 87% of years and April still brings one in 71% of years and May still brings one in 13% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,910 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 63% of the 283 California stations. 35% of them (1,386) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 646. Precipitation totals 21.1 inches a year, most in February (5.3") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 3% of it.

The nearest other station, Lompoc, CA, 18 miles west of Solvang and 714 feet lower, has a last frost 81 days earlier (January 20), a first frost 41 days later (December 19), a season 126 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Cachuma Lake, CA, 9.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93463 is 9 miles from Cachuma Lake, CA, which stands at 789 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93463 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.