Frost dates for Joshua Tree, CA
At Joshua Tree, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Feb 28 and the median first fall frost is Dec 1, for a typical growing season of 273 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 28. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 9a.
- Feb 28Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 28Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 273 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 1 | Mar 30 | Apr 18 |
| 32°F | Jan 21 | Feb 28 | Mar 28 |
| 28°F | Dec 22 | Jan 24 | Feb 28 |
| 24°F | Dec 13 | Jan 5 | Feb 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 28 | Nov 16 | Dec 2 |
| 32°F | Nov 12 | Dec 1 | Dec 17 |
| 28°F | Nov 28 | Dec 15 | Jan 7 |
| 24°F | Dec 9 | Dec 29 | Feb 6 |
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 | 201 days | 231 days | 263 days |
| 32°F | 240 days | 273 days | 315 days |
| 28°F | 285 days | 327 days | 359 days |
| 24°F | 330 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 94% |
| 24°F | 49% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92252 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 1 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 USC00044405, at 34.1472, -116.2747, elevation 781 m (2,563 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 12 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 24.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Yucca Valley (11 km)
- Yucca Mesa (15 km)
- Twentynine Palms (22 km)
- Morongo Valley N (27 km)
- Johnson Valley (34 km)
- Palm Springs Regional Airport (41 km)
- Palm Springs (42 km)
- Indio Fire Station (49 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.