Frost dates for Tahoe City, CA
At Tahoe City, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jun 9 and the median first fall frost is Sep 25, for a typical growing season of 108 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 25. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 9b.
- Jun 9Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 25Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 25First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 108 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | May 26 | Jun 9 | Jun 25 |
| 28°F | May 2 | May 24 | Jun 10 |
| 24°F | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | May 22 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | Sep 9 | Sep 25 | Oct 10 |
| 28°F | Sep 23 | Oct 12 | Oct 28 |
| 24°F | Oct 11 | Oct 30 | Nov 12 |
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 | 47 days | 73 days | 96 days |
| 32°F | 85 days | 108 days | 130 days |
| 28°F | 117 days | 143 days | 168 days |
| 24°F | 156 days | 181 days | 204 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96145 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 2 km |
| 96140 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 8 km |
| 95604 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 10 km |
| 96146 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 10 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 USC00048758, at 39.1678, -120.1428, elevation 1899 m (6,230 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 198.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Tahoma (12 km)
- Truckee-Tahoe Airport (17 km)
- Truckee Ranger Station (19 km)
- Donner Mem State Park (19 km)
- Boca (25 km)
- Sagehen Creek (31 km)
- South Lake Tahoe Airport (33 km)
- Verdi 2w (41 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.