Frost Dates for 93536 — Lancaster, California

Half of springs at Fairmont, CA see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by February 20, and one in ten still has one after May 20. Planting tender crops after April 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 20 10%. The 44 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% 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 29 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 236 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 289 days one year in ten and falls short of 187 one year in ten. On average 24 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 24 days longer, to about April 30, and return around November 13. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 69% of winters and 16°F in 3%.

August is the warmest month at Fairmont, CA, averaging 93°F by day and 68°F at night; December is the coldest at 55°F and 37°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to January (a 90% chance or more). From June to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,970 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 63% of the 283 California stations. 34% of them (1,677) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 946. Precipitation totals 16.0 inches a year, most in February (4.4") and least in August (0.0"); May to September bring 5% of it.

The nearest other station, Lancaster Wm J Fox Field, CA, 7 miles east of Lancaster and 722 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 3), a first frost 28 days earlier (November 1), a season 25 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Fairmont, CA, 6.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93536 is 6 miles from Fairmont, CA, which stands at 3,060 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 93536 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.