Frost Dates for 93534 — Lancaster, California

Half of springs at Lancaster Wm J Fox Field, CA see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 8, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 23 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 88% of the 220 California stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 7, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 211 days in a typical year, shorter than at 78% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 240 days one year in ten and falls short of 185 one year in ten. On average 68 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 16 days longer, to about April 19, and return around October 22. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 65%.

July is the warmest month at Lancaster Wm J Fox Field, CA, averaging 98°F by day and 67°F at night; December is the coldest at 58°F and 30°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 54% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,029 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 64% of the 283 California stations. 36% of them (1,813) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,004. Precipitation totals 6.9 inches a year, most in February (1.8") and least in August (0.0"); May to September bring 6% of it.

The nearest other station, Palmdale Airport, CA, 6 miles southeast of Lancaster and 186 feet higher, has a last frost 16 days earlier (March 18), a first frost 14 days later (November 15), a season 30 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Palmdale, CA, 8.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93534 is 5 miles from Lancaster Wm J Fox Field, CA, which stands at 2,338 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93534 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.