Frost dates for San Rafael Civic Center, CA
At San Rafael Civic Center, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jan 11 and the median first fall frost is Dec 21, for a typical growing season of 349 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Feb 25. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 9b to 10a.
- Jan 11Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Feb 25Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 21First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 349 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 | Jan 6 | Feb 22 | Apr 6 |
| 32°F | Dec 14 | Jan 11 | Feb 25 |
| 28°F | Dec 11 | Dec 31 | Feb 21 |
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 15 | Dec 5 | Jan 1 |
| 32°F | Dec 2 | Dec 21 | Feb 9 |
| 28°F | Dec 7 | Dec 29 | Feb 18 |
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 | 241 days | 287 days | 332 days |
| 32°F | 304 days | 349 days | 365 days |
| 28°F | 349 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 | 99% |
| 32°F | 70% |
| 28°F | 21% |
| 24°F | 3% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94903 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 3 km |
| 94960 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 4 km |
| 94901 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 4 km |
| 94949 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 7 km |
| 94973 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 9 km |
| 94963 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 11 km |
| 94933 | 10a | 30 to 35°F | 13 km |
| 94945 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 14 km |
| 94947 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 14 km |
| 94946 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 16 km |
| 94938 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 17 km |
| 94950 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 20 km |
| 94956 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 25 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 USC00047880, at 37.9983, -122.5372, elevation 37 m (120 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 3.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Kentfield (5 km)
- Richmond (17 km)
- San Francisco Dwtn (27 km)
- Berkeley (28 km)
- Petaluma Airport (30 km)
- San Francisco Oceanside (30 km)
- Napa Co Airport (32 km)
- Oakland Museum (33 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.