Frost dates for Arcata Eureka Airport, CA
At Arcata Eureka Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 8 and the median first fall frost is Nov 30, for a typical growing season of 262 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 15. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b.
- Mar 8Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 15Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 30First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 262 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 28 | Apr 24 | May 15 |
| 32°F | Jan 13 | Mar 8 | Apr 15 |
| 28°F | Dec 14 | Jan 20 | Feb 26 |
| 24°F | Dec 11 | Dec 29 | Jan 28 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 11 | Nov 1 | Nov 24 |
| 32°F | Nov 1 | Nov 30 | Jan 4 |
| 28°F | Nov 30 | Dec 24 | Feb 8 |
| 24°F | Dec 9 | Dec 28 | Jan 28 |
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 | 158 days | 190 days | 227 days |
| 32°F | 216 days | 262 days | 315 days |
| 28°F | 299 days | 345 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 356 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 99% |
| 28°F | 66% |
| 24°F | 14% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95519 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 5 km |
| 95570 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 15 km |
| 95525 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 24 km |
| 95573 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 38 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 USW00024283, at 40.9781, -124.1086, elevation 61 m (200 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 24 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 19.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Eureka WFO Woodley Island (19 km)
- Orick Prairie Creek Park (43 km)
- Scotia (55 km)
- Grizzly Creek State Park (57 km)
- Orleans (61 km)
- Klamath (67 km)
- Big Bar 4 E (80 km)
- Cecilville (83 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.