Frost Dates for 93610 — Chowchilla, California

Half of springs at Madera Municipal Airport, CA see their last 32°F night by February 12; only one in ten is past it by January 6, and one in ten still has one after March 17. Planting tender crops after February 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 5 20%, and after March 17 10%. The 33 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 61% 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 30 in half of years, as early as November 14 one year in ten, and holds off past January 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 12, 33 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 293 days in a typical year, longer than at 60% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 329 days one year in ten and falls short of 256 one year in ten. On average 25 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 39 days longer, to about March 23, and return around November 15. A 24°F night is unusual: 24% of winters had one.

July is the warmest month at Madera Municipal Airport, CA, averaging 98°F by day and 63°F at night; December is the coldest at 56°F and 38°F. From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 57% of years and March still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,171 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 69% of the 283 California stations. 38% of them (1,954) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 935. Precipitation totals 10.8 inches a year, most in January (2.1") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 6% of it.

The nearest other station, Madera, CA, 17 miles southeast of Chowchilla, has a last frost 6 days later (February 18), a first frost 3 days earlier (November 27), a season 12 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Madera, CA, 16.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93610 is 12 miles from Madera Municipal Airport, CA, which stands at 253 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 93637 (Madera). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93610 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.