Frost dates for Balch Power House, CA
At Balch Power House, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Feb 23 and the median first fall frost is Dec 12, for a typical growing season of 294 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 4. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 9a.
- Feb 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 4Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 12First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 294 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 | Feb 27 | Apr 2 | Apr 24 |
| 32°F | Jan 17 | Feb 23 | Apr 4 |
| 28°F | Dec 19 | Jan 21 | Mar 3 |
| 24°F | Dec 13 | Dec 31 | Jan 29 |
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 | Nov 10 | Nov 27 | Dec 12 |
| 32°F | Nov 25 | Dec 12 | Jan 7 |
| 28°F | Dec 7 | Dec 27 | Feb 11 |
| 24°F | Dec 13 | Dec 29 | Jan 28 |
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 | 211 days | 240 days | 275 days |
| 32°F | 250 days | 294 days | 336 days |
| 28°F | 303 days | 351 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 355 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 99% |
| 28°F | 69% |
| 24°F | 18% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93664 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 18 km |
| 93667 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 21 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 USC00040449, at 36.9092, -119.0883, elevation 529 m (1,735 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 15.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Grant Grove (22 km)
- Huntington Lake (37 km)
- Auberry 2 NW (43 km)
- Lodgepole (46 km)
- N Fk Ranger Station (52 km)
- Ash Mountain (52 km)
- Three Rivers Edison Ph 1 (53 km)
- Friant Government Camp (56 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.