Frost Dates for 93543 — Littlerock, California

Half of springs at Pearblossom, CA see their last 32°F night by March 13; only one in ten is past it by February 10, and one in ten still has one after April 17. Planting tender crops after April 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 17 10%. The 35 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 71% 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 December 1 in half of years, as early as November 12 one year in ten, and holds off past December 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 18, 30 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 258 days in a typical year, shorter than at 64% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 297 days one year in ten and falls short of 222 one year in ten. On average 26 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 32 days longer, to about April 14, and return around November 16. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 53% of winters and 16°F in 0%.

July is the warmest month at Pearblossom, CA, averaging 99°F by day and 68°F at night; December is the coldest at 58°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to January (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 81% of years and March still brings one in 53% of years and April still brings one in 30% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,595 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 283 California stations. 36% of them (2,025) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,026. Precipitation totals 6.9 inches a year, most in February (1.6") and least in June (0.0"); May to September bring 12% of it.

The nearest other station, Palmdale, CA, 9 miles northwest of Littlerock and 489 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days earlier (March 10), a first frost 12 days earlier (November 19), a season 10 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 28 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Pearblossom, CA, 3.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93543 is 4 miles from Pearblossom, CA, which stands at 3,101 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 93543 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.