Frost dates for Cachuma Lake, CA
At Cachuma Lake, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 11 and the median first fall frost is Nov 8, for a typical growing season of 209 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 6. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 10a.
- Apr 11Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 6Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 209 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 | Apr 19 | May 12 | Jun 7 |
| 32°F | Mar 14 | Apr 11 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Jan 24 | Feb 27 | Apr 4 |
| 24°F | Dec 17 | Jan 24 | Feb 25 |
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 | Sep 21 | Oct 17 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F | Oct 14 | Nov 8 | Nov 29 |
| 28°F | Nov 7 | Nov 27 | Dec 17 |
| 24°F | Nov 22 | Dec 13 | Jan 20 |
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 | 119 days | 154 days | 188 days |
| 32°F | 171 days | 209 days | 245 days |
| 28°F | 232 days | 271 days | 312 days |
| 24°F | 288 days | 328 days | 363 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 88% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93463 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 14 km |
| 93117 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 15 km |
| 93441 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 20 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 USC00041253, at 34.5822, -119.9817, elevation 240 m (789 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 20 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 19.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Santa Barbara 11 W (21 km)
- Santa Barbara Muni Airport (22 km)
- Gibraltar Dam #2 (28 km)
- Santa Barbara (33 km)
- Lompoc (44 km)
- New Cuyama Fire Station (49 km)
- Twitchell Dam (55 km)
- Santa Maria Public Airport (55 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.