Frost Dates for 96013 — Burney, California

Half of springs at Burney, CA see their last 32°F night by June 3; only one in ten is past it by May 15, and one in ten still has one after June 19. Planting tender crops after June 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 14 20%, and after June 19 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 98% of the 220 California stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 14 in half of years, as early as September 1 one year in ten, and holds off past September 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around October 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is June 3, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 102 days in a typical year, shorter than at 98% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 128 days one year in ten and falls short of 81 one year in ten. On average 178 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Burney, CA, averaging 90°F by day and 48°F at night; December is the coldest at 44°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from September to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 61% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,014 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 283 California stations. 28% of them (574) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 575. Precipitation totals 28.6 inches a year, most in February (5.2") and least in July (0.3"); May to September bring 12% of it.

The nearest other station, Manzanita Lake, CA, 27 miles south of Burney and 2,552 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days later (June 9), a first frost 7 days later (September 21).

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Burney usually arrives around December 14, and the last of the season around February 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hat Creek, CA, 7.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 88% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 99 days after the last snow.

ZIP 96013 is 4 miles from Burney, CA, which stands at 3,198 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 96013 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.