Frost Dates for 95019 — Freedom, California

Half of springs at Watsonville Municipal Airport, CA see their last 32°F night by January 31; only one in ten is past it by December 28, and one in ten still has one after March 9. Planting tender crops after February 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after February 28 20%, and after March 9 10%. The 37 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 79% 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 9 in half of years, as early as November 20 one year in ten, and holds off past January 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is January 31, 37 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 317 days in a typical year, longer than at 73% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 354 days one year in ten and falls short of 273 one year in ten. On average 7 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 45 days longer, to about March 17, and return around November 22. A 24°F night is unusual: 11% of winters had one.

September is the warmest month at Watsonville Municipal Airport, CA, averaging 75°F by day and 52°F at night; December is the coldest at 61°F and 39°F. From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 36% of years and March still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,817 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 87% of the 283 California stations. 37% of them (1,050) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 414. Precipitation totals 22.4 inches a year, most in January (4.6") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 5% of it.

The nearest other station, Watsonville Wtr Wks, CA, under a mile southeast of Freedom, has a last frost 3 days earlier (January 28), a first frost 4 days later (December 13), a season 7 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Watsonville Wtr Wks, CA, 0.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 95019 is under a mile from Watsonville Municipal Airport, CA, which stands at 160 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 95019 in zone 9b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.