Frost dates for Independence, CA
At Independence, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 31 and the median first fall frost is Nov 9, for a typical growing season of 224 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 23. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8a.
- Mar 31Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 23Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 9First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 224 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 24 | Apr 16 | May 9 |
| 32°F | Mar 4 | Mar 31 | Apr 23 |
| 28°F | Feb 11 | Mar 6 | Apr 7 |
| 24°F | Jan 11 | Feb 14 | Mar 14 |
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 16 | Nov 1 | Nov 13 |
| 32°F | Oct 27 | Nov 9 | Nov 22 |
| 28°F | Nov 6 | Nov 21 | Dec 6 |
| 24°F | Nov 16 | Dec 3 | Dec 21 |
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 | 168 days | 196 days | 222 days |
| 32°F | 194 days | 224 days | 253 days |
| 28°F | 224 days | 257 days | 289 days |
| 24°F | 256 days | 293 days | 327 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93526 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 8 km |
| 93545 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 26 km |
| 93513 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 29 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 USC00044232, at 36.7981, -118.2036, elevation 1204 m (3,950 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 80.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Lodgepole (52 km)
- Ash Mountain (65 km)
- Bishop Airport (65 km)
- Grant Grove (68 km)
- Three Rivers Edison Ph 1 (69 km)
- Haiwee (77 km)
- Balch Power House (80 km)
- Lemon Cove (87 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.