Frost dates for Palmdale Airport, CA
At Palmdale Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 18 and the median first fall frost is Nov 15, for a typical growing season of 241 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Mar 18Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 15First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 241 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 16 | Apr 7 | Apr 27 |
| 32°F | Feb 19 | Mar 18 | Apr 11 |
| 28°F | Jan 21 | Feb 19 | Mar 21 |
| 24°F | Dec 24 | Jan 25 | Feb 24 |
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 20 | Nov 4 | Nov 16 |
| 32°F | Oct 30 | Nov 15 | Nov 30 |
| 28°F | Nov 9 | Nov 27 | Dec 14 |
| 24°F | Nov 22 | Dec 10 | Jan 16 |
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 | 185 days | 210 days | 235 days |
| 32°F | 209 days | 241 days | 271 days |
| 28°F | 247 days | 281 days | 316 days |
| 24°F | 290 days | 324 days | 355 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 94% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93535 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 19 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 USW00023182, at 34.6294, -118.0836, elevation 769 m (2,524 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 54.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Palmdale (5 km)
- Lancaster Wm J Fox Field (17 km)
- Pearblossom (22 km)
- Fairmont (33 km)
- El Mirage (42 km)
- Mount Wilson Cbs (44 km)
- Mojave (47 km)
- Wrightwood (50 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.