Frost Dates for 95623 — El Dorado, California

Half of springs at Placerville, CA see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by February 24, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 23 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 78% 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 November 21 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 33 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 237 days in a typical year, shorter than at 71% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 275 days one year in ten and falls short of 204 one year in ten. On average 30 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 23 days longer, to about April 23, and return around November 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 82% of winters and 16°F in 4%.

July is the warmest month at Placerville, CA, averaging 94°F by day and 61°F at night; December is the coldest at 56°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 71% of years and April still brings one in 45% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,181 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 56% of the 283 California stations. 32% of them (1,333) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 849.

The nearest other station, Sutter Hill Cdf, CA, 18 miles south of El Dorado and 264 feet lower, has a last frost 27 days earlier (March 4), a first frost 20 days later (December 11), a season 48 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Placerville, CA, 4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 95623 is 4 miles from Placerville, CA, which stands at 1,850 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 95762 (El Dorado Hills). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 95623 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.