Frost Dates for 95460 — Mendocino, California

Half of springs at Fort Bragg 5 N, CA see their last 32°F night by March 2; only one in ten is past it by January 8, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 6 10%. The 35 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 71% 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 1 in half of years, as early as November 9 one year in ten, and holds off past January 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 20 days later, around December 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 21, 44 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 272 days in a typical year, shorter than at 54% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 323 days one year in ten and falls short of 234 one year in ten. On average 12 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 April 16, and return around November 6. A 24°F night is unusual: 3% of winters had one.

August is the warmest month at Fort Bragg 5 N, CA, averaging 65°F by day and 50°F at night; December is the coldest at 52°F and 40°F. From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 56% of years and March still brings one in 41% of years and April still brings one in 16% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,186 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 99% of the 283 California stations. 29% of them (349) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 231. Precipitation totals 43.4 inches a year, most in December (8.7") and least in July (0.1"); May to September bring 6% of it.

The nearest other station, Willits 1 NE, CA, 25 miles east of Mendocino and 1,230 feet higher, has a last frost 64 days later (May 5), a first frost 53 days earlier (October 9), a season 115 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Fort Bragg 5 N, CA, 13.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 95460 is 14 miles from Fort Bragg 5 N, CA, which stands at 123 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 95437 (Fort Bragg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 95460 in zone 10a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 30 to 35°F (-1.1 to 1.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.