Frost dates for Big Sur Station, CA
At Big Sur Station, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Feb 13 and the median first fall frost is Dec 27, for a typical growing season of 323 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 1. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 10b.
- Feb 13Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 1Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 27First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 323 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 | Mar 6 | Apr 13 | May 13 |
| 32°F | Dec 26 | Feb 13 | Apr 1 |
| 28°F | Dec 17 | Jan 25 | Mar 21 |
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 | Oct 27 | Nov 28 | Dec 31 |
| 32°F | Nov 23 | Dec 27 | Feb 22 |
| 28°F | Dec 10 | Jan 6 | Mar 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 | 179 days | 226 days | 275 days |
| 32°F | 268 days | 323 days | 365 days |
| 28°F | 331 days | 365 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 365 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 83% |
| 28°F | 28% |
| 24°F | 2% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93920 | 10b | 35 to 40°F | 32 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 USC00040790, at 36.2472, -121.7803, elevation 61 m (200 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 3.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Carmel Valley (26 km)
- Monterey Peninsul Airport (38 km)
- Monterey WFO (39 km)
- Monterey (40 km)
- Salinas #2 (47 km)
- Salinas Municipal Airport (49 km)
- King City (58 km)
- Pinnacles National Monument (60 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.