Frost dates for Richmond, CA
At Richmond, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jan 4 and the median first fall frost is Jan 2, for a typical growing season of 365 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jan 26. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 9b to 10a.
- Jan 4Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jan 26Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jan 2First 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 22 | Jan 17 | Feb 23 |
| 32°F | Dec 14 | Jan 4 | Jan 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 | Dec 2 | Dec 24 | Jan 21 |
| 32°F | Dec 11 | Jan 2 | Jan 22 |
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 | 306 days | 343 days | 365 days |
| 32°F | 354 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 | 80% |
| 32°F | 22% |
| 28°F | 0% |
| 24°F | 0% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94804 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 3 km |
| 94801 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 4 km |
| 94805 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 5 km |
| 94806 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 7 km |
| 94920 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 8 km |
| 94803 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 9 km |
| 94564 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 12 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 USC00047414, at 37.9192, -122.3772, elevation 6 m (20 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 0.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Berkeley (11 km)
- Kentfield (15 km)
- San Rafael Civic Center (17 km)
- Oakland Museum (17 km)
- San Francisco Dwtn (17 km)
- San Francisco Oceanside (24 km)
- Martinez Water Plant (25 km)
- Oakland Metro Intl Airport (26 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.