Frost Dates for 95386 — Waterford, California

In the 68% of winters that bring a 32°F night, half of springs at Turlock #2, CA see their last 32°F night by January 6; only one in ten is past it by December 14, and one in ten still has one after January 31. Counting the winters with no freeze at all, the risk of a 32°F night after January 31 is under 7% and after January 6 34%. 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 20 in half of years, as early as December 3 one year in ten, and holds off past January 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F is less common: it came in 20% of winters. The freeze-free season lasts 351 days in a typical year, longer than at 95% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 365 days one year in ten and falls short of 325 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 25 days longer, to about January 31, and return around December 7. A 24°F night is unusual: 2% of winters had one.

July is the warmest month at Turlock #2, CA, averaging 93°F by day and 66°F at night; December is the coldest at 55°F and 42°F. From February to November the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,351 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 75% of the 283 California stations. 39% of them (2,093) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 911. Precipitation totals 12.4 inches a year, most in January (2.6") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 6% of it.

The nearest other station, Modesto City Co Airport, CA, 12 miles west of Waterford, has a last frost 25 days later (January 31), a first frost 15 days earlier (December 5), a season 39 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Turlock #2, CA, 11.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 95386 is 12 miles from Turlock #2, CA, which stands at 103 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 95380 (Turlock). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 95386 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.