Frost dates for Mitchell Caverns, CA
At Mitchell Caverns, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 6 and the median first fall frost is Dec 8, for a typical growing season of 272 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9b.
- Mar 6Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 272 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 1 | May 2 |
| 32°F | Jan 17 | Mar 6 | Apr 9 |
| 28°F | Dec 21 | Feb 1 | Mar 20 |
| 24°F | Dec 5 | Jan 6 | Feb 26 |
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 30 | Nov 24 | Dec 14 |
| 32°F | Nov 12 | Dec 8 | Jan 5 |
| 28°F | Nov 25 | Dec 25 | Feb 13 |
| 24°F | Dec 2 | Jan 1 | Feb 15 |
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 | 189 days | 231 days | 274 days |
| 32°F | 226 days | 272 days | 326 days |
| 28°F | 272 days | 329 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 331 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 99% |
| 28°F | 80% |
| 24°F | 33% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92332 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 17 km |
| 92304 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 46 km |
| 92364 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 47 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 USC00045721, at 34.9436, -115.5469, elevation 1326 m (4,350 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 15 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 22.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Baker (60 km)
- Needles Airport (87 km)
- Iron Mountain (97 km)
- Twentynine Palms (101 km)
- Joshua Tree (111 km)
- Johnson Valley (112 km)
- Yucca Mesa (113 km)
- Barstow Daggett Airport (113 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.