Frost dates for El Cajon, CA
At El Cajon, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jan 6 and the median first fall frost is Dec 21, for a typical growing season of 350 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Feb 7. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 10a to 10b.
- Jan 6Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Feb 7Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 21First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 350 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 | Jan 6 | Feb 6 | Mar 3 |
| 32°F | Dec 13 | Jan 6 | Feb 7 |
| 28°F | Dec 8 | Dec 31 | Jan 15 |
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 | Nov 18 | Dec 6 | Dec 29 |
| 32°F | Dec 1 | Dec 21 | Jan 15 |
| 28°F | Dec 7 | Dec 30 | Jan 14 |
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 | 269 days | 300 days | 336 days |
| 32°F | 317 days | 350 days | 365 days |
| 28°F | 357 days | 365 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 365 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 99% |
| 32°F | 73% |
| 28°F | 16% |
| 24°F | 0% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92020 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 4 km |
| 92019 | 10b | 35 to 40°F | 6 km |
| 92021 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 6 km |
| 91941 | 10b | 35 to 40°F | 8 km |
| 92071 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 8 km |
| 91942 | 10b | 35 to 40°F | 9 km |
| 92119 | 10b | 35 to 40°F | 10 km |
| 91977 | 10b | 35 to 40°F | 10 km |
| 91978 | 10b | 35 to 40°F | 11 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 USC00042706, at 32.8006, -116.9281, elevation 151 m (495 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 2.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- El Capitan Dam (14 km)
- Alpine (15 km)
- San Diego Montgomery Field (20 km)
- San Diego Miramar NAS (21 km)
- Chula Vista (23 km)
- Ramona Fire Dept (24 km)
- San Diego Lindbergh Field (25 km)
- San Diego Brown Field (26 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.