Frost dates for Monterey WFO, CA
At Monterey WFO, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jan 3 and the median first fall frost is Dec 28, for a typical growing season of 365 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jan 24. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 9b to 10a.
- Jan 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jan 24Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 365 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 | Dec 30 | Feb 1 | Mar 3 |
| 32°F | Dec 12 | Jan 3 | Jan 24 |
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 21 | Dec 10 | Jan 6 |
| 32°F | Dec 5 | Dec 28 | Jan 17 |
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 | 275 days | 314 days | 350 days |
| 32°F | 339 days | 365 days | 365 days |
| 28°F | 365 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 | 97% |
| 32°F | 47% |
| 28°F | 6% |
| 24°F | 0% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93940 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 6 km |
| 93944 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 6 km |
| 93955 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 7 km |
| 93950 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 7 km |
| 93921 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 7 km |
| 93953 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 8 km |
| 93933 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 11 km |
| 93962 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 19 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 USC00045802, at 36.5928, -121.8556, elevation 37 m (122 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 19 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 1.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Monterey Peninsul Airport (1 km)
- Monterey (4 km)
- Carmel Valley (17 km)
- Salinas #2 (18 km)
- Salinas Municipal Airport (23 km)
- Watsonville Wtr Wks (38 km)
- Watsonville Muni Airport (39 km)
- Big Sur Station (39 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.