Frost Dates for 93635 — Los Banos, California

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Los Banos Det Resv, CA, 5 miles southwest of Los Banos 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.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Los Banos, CA, 0.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 93635 is under a mile 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. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 93635 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.