Frost dates for Tahoma, CA
At Tahoma, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jun 4 and the median first fall frost is Oct 3, for a typical growing season of 120 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 20. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Jun 4Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 20Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 3First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 120 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 19 | Jun 4 | Jun 20 |
| 28°F | Apr 29 | May 15 | Jun 4 |
| 24°F | Apr 11 | Apr 28 | May 17 |
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 17 | Oct 3 | Oct 16 |
| 28°F | Oct 2 | Oct 16 | Nov 2 |
| 24°F | Oct 14 | Nov 1 | Nov 18 |
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 | 54 days | 82 days | 107 days |
| 32°F | 96 days | 120 days | 141 days |
| 28°F | 129 days | 153 days | 179 days |
| 24°F | 161 days | 187 days | 207 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96142 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 96141 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 8 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 USC00048760, at 39.0600, -120.1292, elevation 1925 m (6,315 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 7 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 200.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Tahoe City (12 km)
- South Lake Tahoe Airport (21 km)
- Truckee-Tahoe Airport (29 km)
- Truckee Ranger Station (31 km)
- Donner Mem State Park (31 km)
- Boca (37 km)
- Sagehen Creek (42 km)
- Pacific House (47 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.