Frost Dates for 93535 — Lancaster, California

Half of springs at Palmdale Airport, CA see their last 32°F night by March 18; only one in ten is past it by February 19, and one in ten still has one after April 11. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 11 10%. The 24 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 74% 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 15 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past November 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 21 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 271 days one year in ten and falls short of 209 one year in ten. On average 54 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 20 days longer, to about April 7, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 94% of winters and 16°F in 16%.

July is the warmest month at Palmdale Airport, CA, averaging 98°F by day and 67°F at night; December is the coldest at 58°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 72% of years and April still brings one in 25% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,158 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 283 California stations. 35% of them (1,823) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,007. Precipitation totals 6.0 inches a year, most in February (1.5") and least in June (0.0"); May to September bring 7% of it.

The nearest other station, Palmdale, CA, 10 miles southwest of Lancaster, has a last frost 8 days earlier (March 10), a first frost 4 days later (November 19), a season 7 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, 9.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93535 is 7 miles from Palmdale Airport, CA, which stands at 2,524 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93535 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.