Plant By Frost

California

Frost dates for El Cajon, CA

At this NOAA station the last spring frost (32°F) usually comes by January 6 and the first fall frost around December 21, giving a growing season of about 350 days.

January 6average last spring frost
December 21average first fall frost
JanAprJulOctDec

Frost odds

1 year in 10 the last spring frost is later thanFebruary 7
Half of years the last spring frost is later thanJanuary 6
9 years in 10 the last spring frost is later thanDecember 13
1 year in 10 the first fall frost is earlier thanDecember 1
Half of years the first fall frost is earlier thanDecember 21
9 years in 10 the first fall frost is earlier thanJanuary 15

A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends by December 31 and returns around December 30.

A light frost (36°F, which can still nip tender plants) usually ends by February 6 and returns around December 6.

Station USC00042706, elevation 151 m. Based on 27 years of 1991 to 2020 records. A garden higher up, in a hollow or far from this station can freeze later in spring.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Annual/Seasonal Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020 (freeze probability dates by station), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, checked 1 November 2026
  2. Annual/Seasonal Normals 1991 to 2020 documentation, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, checked 1 November 2026
  3. 2024 Gazetteer Files, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, US Census Bureau, checked 1 November 2026