Frost Dates for 96064 — Montague, California

Half of springs at Montague Siskiyou Co Airport, CA see their last 32°F night by May 12; only one in ten is past it by April 26, and one in ten still has one after June 1. Planting tender crops after May 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 26 20%, and after June 1 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 88% of the 220 California stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 8 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 13, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 148 days in a typical year, shorter than at 92% of the 219 California stations; it reaches 169 days one year in ten and falls short of 126 one year in ten. On average 137 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 19 days longer, to about May 31, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between December 5 and February 11.

July is the warmest month at Montague Siskiyou Co Airport, CA, averaging 93°F by day and 55°F at night; December is the coldest at 46°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 77% of years and June still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,804 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 87% of the 283 California stations. 28% of them (773) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 742. Precipitation totals 12.2 inches a year, most in December (2.3") and least in July (0.2"); May to September bring 20% of it.

The nearest other station, Yreka, CA, 13 miles west of Montague, has a last frost 12 days earlier (April 30), a first frost 10 days later (October 18), a season 21 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Montague usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Yreka, CA, 12.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 71 days after the last snow.

ZIP 96064 is 5 miles from Montague Siskiyou Co Airport, CA, which stands at 2,635 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 96064 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.