Frost dates for Chester, CA
At Chester, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 28 and the median first fall frost is Sep 28, for a typical growing season of 124 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 13. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7a.
- May 28Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 13Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 124 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 | May 31 | Jun 15 | Jul 2 |
| 32°F | May 7 | May 28 | Jun 13 |
| 28°F | Apr 17 | May 2 | May 24 |
| 24°F | Mar 28 | Apr 13 | May 3 |
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 | Aug 27 | Sep 12 | Sep 26 |
| 32°F | Sep 12 | Sep 28 | Oct 14 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 18 | Nov 1 |
| 24°F | Oct 19 | Nov 2 | Nov 17 |
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 | 64 days | 89 days | 112 days |
| 32°F | 100 days | 124 days | 149 days |
| 28°F | 138 days | 163 days | 187 days |
| 24°F | 176 days | 203 days | 226 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96020 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 2 km |
| 96137 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 18 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 USC00041700, at 40.3033, -121.2422, elevation 1381 m (4,530 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 188.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Canyon Dam (20 km)
- Mineral (31 km)
- Manzanita Lake (39 km)
- Quincy (48 km)
- Susanville 2sw (51 km)
- De Sabla (57 km)
- Paradise (69 km)
- Burney (73 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.