Frost dates for Pinnacles National Monument, CA
At Pinnacles National Monument, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 23 and the median first fall frost is Nov 3, for a typical growing season of 189 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 4. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b.
- Apr 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 4Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 3First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 189 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 | Apr 27 | May 28 | Jun 30 |
| 32°F | Mar 23 | Apr 23 | Jun 4 |
| 28°F | Jan 31 | Mar 12 | Apr 29 |
| 24°F | Dec 20 | Jan 30 | Mar 21 |
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 | Sep 1 | Oct 12 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F | Oct 7 | Nov 3 | Nov 22 |
| 28°F | Nov 1 | Nov 22 | Dec 16 |
| 24°F | Nov 18 | Dec 12 | Jan 20 |
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 | 86 days | 134 days | 174 days |
| 32°F | 135 days | 189 days | 230 days |
| 28°F | 191 days | 252 days | 300 days |
| 24°F | 267 days | 321 days | 362 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 90% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93960 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 15 km |
| 95043 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 18 km |
| 93926 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 20 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 USC00046926, at 36.4819, -121.1822, elevation 398 m (1,307 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 20 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 67.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Paicines 4 W (30 km)
- King City (31 km)
- Salinas Municipal Airport (43 km)
- Hollister 2 (46 km)
- Salinas #2 (48 km)
- Carmel Valley (48 km)
- Priest Valley (54 km)
- Big Sur Station (60 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.