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USDA Hardiness Zone 9b

Frost Dates for 95691 — West Sacramento, California

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Sacramento Executive Airport, CA (15 ft), 5 miles southeast.

Updated

In West Sacramento, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 2 in half of years and has passed by March 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around December 2, as early as November 16 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 301 days (NOAA, Sacramento Executive Airport, CA).

Last spring frost
February 2

50% probability

First fall frost
December 2

50% probability

Growing season
301 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
9b

25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
0%

0 of 24 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in West Sacramento

Half of springs at Sacramento Executive Airport, CA see their last 32°F night by February 2; only one in ten is past it by January 2, and one in ten still has one after March 5. Planting tender crops after February 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after February 25 20%, and after March 5 10%. The 31 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 53% 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 2 in half of years, as early as November 16 one year in ten, and holds off past January 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 1, 32 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 301 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 338 days one year in ten and falls short of 266 one year in ten. On average 15 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 40 days longer, to about March 14, and return around November 18. A 24°F night is unusual: 22% of winters had one.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 13Feb 25Mar 2Mar 8Mar 14Mar 21Mar 29Apr 4Apr 10
32°F98% of yrsJan 2Jan 12Jan 21Jan 29Feb 2Feb 10Feb 17Feb 25Mar 5
28°F70% of yrsDec 12Dec 21Dec 27Dec 31Jan 4Jan 11Jan 18Jan 26Feb 1
24°F22% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F3% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FNov 4Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 18Nov 21Nov 24Nov 28Dec 3
32°F98% of yrsNov 16Nov 21Nov 26Nov 30Dec 2Dec 6Dec 11Dec 18Jan 2
28°F70% of yrsNov 30Dec 3Dec 8Dec 12Dec 16Dec 22Dec 28Jan 2Jan 14
24°F22% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F3% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Sacramento Executive Airport, 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 95691 →Compare West Sacramento with another place →

Weather by month in West Sacramento

July is the warmest month at Sacramento Executive Airport, CA, averaging 93°F by day and 59°F at night; December is the coldest at 56°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 44% of years and March still brings one in 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,621 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 283 California stations. 38% of them (1,737) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 803. Precipitation totals 18.3 inches a year, most in January (3.7") and least in July (0.0"); May to September bring 6% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Sacramento Executive Airport, CA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan56393.779%527
Feb61423.544%276
Mar66452.714%<1179
Apr72471.32%0288
May80520.80%0501
Jun88570.20%0666
Jul93590.00%0803
Aug92590.00%0786
Sep89570.10%0675
Oct79500.90%0451
Nov65431.741%2140
Dec56393.479%728

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Sacramento Executive Airport, CA (15 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, Sacramento 5 ESE, CA, 7 miles east of West Sacramento, has a last frost 21 days earlier (January 12), a first frost 14 days later (December 16), a season 40 days longer.

Frost dates for 95630 (Folsom) →

When it snows in West Sacramento, California

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 24 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Sacramento 5 ESE, CA, 7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 95691

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for West Sacramento, California
WhenWhat to do
November 24 – December 8Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
December 8 – December 22Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
January 5 – January 19Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
February 2 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 9Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 18Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
December 2 onwardPlant 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 95691 is 5 miles from Sacramento Executive Airport, CA, which stands at 15 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 11 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 95823 (Sacramento). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 95691 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.

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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 9b places in California