Frost Dates for 93501 — Mojave, California

Half of springs at Mojave, CA see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 21, and one in ten still has one after April 17. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 17 10%. The 33 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 61% 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 17 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 22, 26 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 241 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 270 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 40 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 27 days longer, to about April 11, and return around November 5. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 20%.

July is the warmest month at Mojave, CA, averaging 97°F by day and 69°F at night; December is the coldest at 57°F and 32°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 71% of years and April still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,174 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 69% of the 283 California stations. 35% of them (1,822) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,028. Precipitation totals 5.7 inches a year, most in February (1.5") and least in June (0.0"); May to September bring 11% of it.

The nearest other station, Tehachapi 4 SE, CA, 15 miles west of Mojave and 1,485 feet higher, has a last frost 44 days later (April 28), a first frost 22 days earlier (October 26), a season 58 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Mojave, CA, 0.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93501 is under a mile from Mojave, CA, which stands at 2,735 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 93505 (California City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93501 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.