U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00045026 · California

Frost Dates for Lodgepole, CA

NOAA weather station Lodgepole (USC00045026), California · elevation 6735 ft (2053 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter June 29only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostJune 850% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostSeptember 2050% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season100 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Lodgepole, CASpring: a frost after May 24 in 9 years out of 10, after June 8 in half of the years, after June 29 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before August 31 in 1 year out of 10, before September 20 in half of the years, before October 8 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 100 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Jun 8First frost ~Sep 20Frost season at Lodgepole, CASpring: a frost after May 24 in 9 years out of 10, after June 8 in half of the years, after June 29 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before August 31 in 1 year out of 10, before September 20 in half of the years, before October 8 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 100 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Jun 8First frost ~Sep 20
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)June 29August 31
50% (typical)June 8September 20
90% (likely)May 24October 8
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
100 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
May 23
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 7

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost June 7 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost September 22 (2 days later). Frost-free season 106 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Lodgepole: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% June 29, 20% June 19, 30% June 16, 40% June 12, 50% June 8, 60% June 6, 70% June 3, 80% June 1, 90% May 24.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Jun 1Jul 1Jun 29Jun 8May 24Fall at Lodgepole: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% August 31, 20% September 7, 30% September 12, 40% September 16, 50% September 20, 60% September 24, 70% September 27, 80% October 2, 90% October 8.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Sep 1Oct 1Aug 31Sep 20Oct 8
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there.

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date, May 24, carries a 90% chance of a light frost later in the season, making it a gamble for gardeners in Lodgepole.

The 50% dates, June 8 in spring and September 20 in fall, each represent an even odds point for a light frost occurring later (spring) or earlier (fall). A cautious plan therefore uses the June 29 date, which has only a 10% chance of a later light frost, for planting tender crops, and the August 31 date, also a 10% chance of an earlier light frost, for finishing harvests.

Hard frost, defined at 28°F, is more damaging than a light frost, so the median hard-frost dates of May 23 and October 7 are noted as critical thresholds for growers in this location.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after June 29" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before August 31" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Lodgepole, CANumbered nearest stations: 1 — Auberry, CA — 55 mi; 2 — Bishop, CA — 57 mi; 3 — near Corcoran, CA — 59 mi; 4 — Dyer, NV — 80 mi; 5 — Lee Vining, CA — 96 mi.CANV50 mi · 80 km1. Auberry, CA — 55 mi12. Bishop, CA — 57 mi23. near Corcoran, CA — 59 mi34. Dyer, NV — 80 mi45. Lee Vining, CA — 96 mi5
  1. Auberry, CA 55 mi (88 km)
  2. Bishop, CA 57 mi (92 km)
  3. near Corcoran, CA 59 mi (95 km)
  4. Dyer, NV 80 mi (129 km)
  5. Lee Vining, CA 96 mi (154 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 6b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 36.6044, -118.7325.