Frost Dates for 93555 — Ridgecrest, California

Half of springs at China Lake Naf, CA see their last 32°F night by March 11; only one in ten is past it by February 18, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 9 10%. The 29 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 52% 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 12 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past November 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 9, 31 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 244 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 269 days one year in ten and falls short of 213 one year in ten. On average 59 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 23 days longer, to about April 3, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 40%.

July is the warmest month at China Lake Naf, CA, averaging 105°F by day and 70°F at night; December is the coldest at 60°F and 30°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 66% of years and April still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,075 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 92% of the 283 California stations. 38% of them (2,323) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,162.

The nearest other station, Randsburg, CA, 16 miles south of Ridgecrest and 1,340 feet higher, has a last frost 8 days later (March 19), a first frost 13 days later (November 25), a season 7 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Inyokern, CA, 8.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93555 is 6 miles from China Lake Naf, CA, which stands at 2,230 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93555 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.