Frost dates for Alturas, CA
At Alturas, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jun 3 and the median first fall frost is Sep 13, for a typical growing season of 97 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 26. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Jun 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 26Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 13First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 97 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | May 15 | Jun 3 | Jun 26 |
| 28°F | Apr 26 | May 14 | Jun 5 |
| 24°F | Apr 4 | Apr 25 | May 16 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | Aug 27 | Sep 13 | Sep 28 |
| 28°F | Sep 11 | Sep 27 | Oct 16 |
| 24°F | Sep 27 | Oct 13 | Nov 1 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 35 days | 62 days | 91 days |
| 32°F | 69 days | 97 days | 125 days |
| 28°F | 105 days | 134 days | 160 days |
| 24°F | 144 days | 170 days | 194 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96101 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 5 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00040161, at 41.4900, -120.5436, elevation 1334 m (4,378 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 18 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 204.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Alturas Muni Airport (2 km)
- Cedarville (31 km)
- Canby 3 SW (31 km)
- Jess Valley (32 km)
- Adin Ranger Station (47 km)
- Fort Bidwell (53 km)
- Lava Beds Nat Mon (83 km)
- Tulelake (93 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.