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USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 93620 — Dos Palos, California

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Los Banos, CA (120 ft), 13 miles west.

Updated

In Dos Palos, the last spring frost (32°F) is around January 26 in half of years and has passed by February 20 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around December 10, as early as November 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 322 days (NOAA, Los Banos, CA).

Last spring frost
January 26

50% probability

First fall frost
December 10

50% probability

Growing season
322 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
9a

20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
0%

0 of 20 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Dos Palos

Half of springs at Los Banos, CA see their last 32°F night by January 26; only one in ten is past it by December 29, and one in ten still has one after February 20. Planting tender crops after February 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after February 10 20%, and after February 20 10%. The 25 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 70% 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 10 in half of years, as early as November 26 one year in ten, and holds off past January 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 4, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 322 days in a typical year, longer than at 76% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 351 days one year in ten and falls short of 291 one year in ten. On average 16 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 29 days longer, to about February 24, and return around November 27. A 24°F night is unusual: 17% of winters had one.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FJan 26Feb 4Feb 12Feb 19Feb 24Feb 28Mar 6Mar 20Apr 3
32°F96% of yrsDec 29Jan 5Jan 13Jan 19Jan 26Jan 31Feb 4Feb 10Feb 20
28°F64% of yrsDec 17Dec 24Dec 31Jan 3Jan 6Jan 11Jan 17Jan 26Feb 4
24°F17% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F1% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FNov 12Nov 17Nov 21Nov 24Nov 27Nov 30Dec 3Dec 6Dec 11
32°F96% of yrsNov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 8Dec 10Dec 15Dec 20Dec 25Jan 4
28°F64% of yrsDec 6Dec 11Dec 16Dec 21Dec 24Dec 30Jan 2Jan 6Jan 19
24°F17% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F1% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Los Banos, CA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 93620 →Compare Dos Palos with another place →

Weather by month in Dos Palos

July is the warmest month at Los Banos, CA, averaging 95°F by day and 64°F at night; December is the coldest at 56°F and 38°F. From March to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,205 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 71% of the 283 California stations. 38% of them (1,987) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 905. Precipitation totals 9.7 inches a year, most in January (2.1") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 7% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Los Banos, CA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan56392.174%628
Feb62431.835%191
Mar68461.30%0222
Apr73490.72%<1342
May81550.50%0564
Jun89600.10%0740
Jul95640.00%0905
Aug94630.00%0879
Sep90600.10%0745
Oct79530.50%0495
Nov66440.917%1167
Dec56381.780%727

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Los Banos, CA (120 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Los Banos Det Resv, CA, 16 miles west of Dos Palos and 287 feet higher, has a last frost 13 days earlier (January 13), a first frost 4 days later (December 14), a season 16 days longer.

Frost dates for 93622 (Firebaugh) →

When it snows in Dos Palos, California

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Los Banos, CA, 12.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 93620

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Dos Palos, California
WhenWhat to do
November 17 – December 1Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
December 1 – December 15Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
December 29 – January 12Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
January 26 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 17Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 26Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
December 10 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 93620 is 13 miles from Los Banos, CA, which stands at 120 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 93635 (Los Banos). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93620 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.

Frost dates across California →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 9a places in California