Frost dates for Orleans, CA
At Orleans, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 12 and the median first fall frost is Nov 26, for a typical growing season of 262 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 9a.
- Mar 12Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 262 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 22 | Apr 12 | May 2 |
| 32°F | Jan 26 | Mar 12 | Apr 9 |
| 28°F | Dec 13 | Jan 28 | Mar 3 |
| 24°F | Nov 29 | 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 | Oct 17 | Nov 5 | Nov 27 |
| 32°F | Oct 31 | Nov 26 | Dec 21 |
| 28°F | Nov 16 | Dec 17 | Jan 31 |
| 24°F | Nov 21 | Dec 22 | Jan 21 |
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 | 180 days | 208 days | 240 days |
| 32°F | 220 days | 262 days | 313 days |
| 28°F | 282 days | 326 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 334 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 86% |
| 24°F | 35% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95556 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 5 km |
| 95568 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 20 km |
| 95546 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 22 km |
| 96027 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 27 km |
| 96039 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 42 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 USC00046508, at 41.3089, -123.5317, elevation 123 m (403 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 25.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cecilville (38 km)
- Orick Prairie Creek Park (41 km)
- Klamath (54 km)
- Callahan (59 km)
- Arcata Eureka Airport (61 km)
- Big Bar 4 E (69 km)
- Eureka WFO Woodley Island (77 km)
- Crescent City 3 NNW (78 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.