USDA Hardiness Zone 9a
Frost Dates for 95247 — Murphys, California
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from New Melones Dam Hq, CA (960 ft), 10 miles south.
Updated
In Murphys, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 20 in half of years and has passed by April 7 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around December 11, as early as November 24 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 290 days (NOAA, New Melones Dam Hq, CA).
- Last spring frost
- February 20
- First fall frost
- December 11
- Growing season
- 290 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 4%
- Snow per year
- 0.2"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
1 of 26 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Murphys
Half of springs at New Melones Dam Hq, CA see their last 32°F night by February 20; only one in ten is past it by January 10, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 22 20%, and after April 7 10%. The 46 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 95% 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 11 in half of years, as early as November 24 one year in ten, and holds off past January 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around December 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 15, 51 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 290 days in a typical year, longer than at 58% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 335 days one year in ten and falls short of 238 one year in ten. On average 13 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 46 days longer, to about April 7, and return around November 24. A 24°F night is unusual: 12% of winters had one.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 1 | Mar 12 | Mar 24 | Apr 1 | Apr 7 | Apr 11 | Apr 16 | Apr 22 | May 5 |
| 32°F99% of yrs | Jan 10 | Jan 25 | Feb 6 | Feb 14 | Feb 20 | Feb 28 | Mar 7 | Mar 22 | Apr 7 |
| 28°F60% of yrs | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Dec 29 | Dec 31 | Jan 6 | Jan 13 | Jan 26 | Feb 5 | Feb 15 |
| 24°F12% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| 20°F1% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Nov 3 | Nov 12 | Nov 17 | Nov 21 | Nov 24 | Nov 28 | Dec 2 | Dec 6 | Dec 12 |
| 32°F99% of yrs | Nov 24 | Nov 30 | Dec 4 | Dec 7 | Dec 11 | Dec 15 | Dec 20 | Dec 28 | Jan 8 |
| 28°F60% of yrs | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 17 | Dec 20 | Dec 24 | Dec 28 | Jan 2 | Jan 11 | Feb 1 |
| 24°F12% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| 20°F1% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at New Melones Dam Hq, 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 95247 →Compare Murphys with another place →
Weather by month in Murphys
July is the warmest month at New Melones Dam Hq, CA, averaging 97°F by day and 65°F at night; December is the coldest at 57°F and 38°F. From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 61% of years and March still brings one in 27% of years and April still brings one in 11% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,108 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 283 California stations. 34% of them (1,726) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 969. Precipitation totals 29.9 inches a year, most in January (5.9") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 7% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | 38 | 5.9 | 77% | 4 | 32 |
| Feb | 61 | 40 | 4.9 | 61% | 2 | 63 |
| Mar | 65 | 44 | 4.8 | 27% | 1 | 159 |
| Apr | 70 | 46 | 2.6 | 11% | <1 | 251 |
| May | 79 | 52 | 1.5 | 3% | <1 | 494 |
| Jun | 89 | 59 | 0.4 | 0% | 0 | 728 |
| Jul | 97 | 65 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 969 |
| Aug | 96 | 65 | 0.0 | 0% | 0 | 941 |
| Sep | 91 | 60 | 0.2 | 0% | 0 | 763 |
| Oct | 80 | 52 | 1.5 | 0% | 0 | 498 |
| Nov | 66 | 44 | 2.9 | 21% | 1 | 177 |
| Dec | 57 | 38 | 5.2 | 78% | 5 | 33 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New Melones Dam Hq, CA (960 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, Calaveras Big Trees, CA, 12 miles northeast of Murphys and 3,735 feet higher, has a last frost 76 days later (May 7), a first frost 44 days earlier (October 28), a season 121 days shorter.
When it snows in Murphys, California
Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at New Melones Dam Hq, CA, 9.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 95247
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| December 12 – December 26 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| December 26 – January 9 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| January 23 – February 6 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| February 20 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by September 18 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 27 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| December 11 onward | Plant 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 95247 is 10 miles from New Melones Dam Hq, CA, which stands at 960 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 95222 (Angels Camp). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 95247 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.