Frost dates / California / Salinas
Frost dates in Salinas, CA
The station on this page is SALINAS MUNICIPAL AP, CA US (USW00023233), 2.3 miles from the city point. Population in the Census 2024 estimate is 160,783.
Zone 9bUSDA average annual extreme minimum 25°F to 30°F, from ZIP 93905 (1.6 miles from the city point used on this page).
Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%
Last 32°F in spring
NCEI’s probability is the chance the last spring minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or after the date.
| Probability | Date | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | December 18 | Earlier date. A last 32°F on or after this day is common. |
| 50% | January 29 | Median. |
| 10% | March 1 | Later date. A last 32°F on or after this day is uncommon. |
First 32°F in fall
NCEI’s probability is the chance the first autumn minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or before the date.
| Probability | Date | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | November 21 | Earlier date. A first 32°F on or before this day is uncommon. |
| 50% | December 10 | Median. |
| 90% | January 15 | Later date. A first 32°F on or before this day is common. |
32°F growing-season length
Days between the last spring 32°F and the first autumn 32°F. The figure is a length the season meets or exceeds at that probability, from NCEI, not a subtraction done on this site.
| Probability the season is at least this long | Days |
|---|---|
| 10% | 364 |
| 50% | 325 |
| 90% | 281 |
28°F threshold
| 10% | 50% | 90% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last, on or after | January 31 | December 31 | December 6 |
| First, on or before | December 1 | December 25 | January 20 |
| Season at least | 365 days | 365 days | 336 days |
36°F threshold
| 10% | 50% | 90% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last, on or after | April 8 | March 9 | February 2 |
| First, on or before | November 4 | November 23 | December 14 |
| Season at least | 297 days | 257 days | 217 days |
Station SALINAS MUNICIPAL AP, CA US (USW00023233). Completeness flag S, 27 years used for the 32°F dates. NCEI’s annual probability of at least one day at or below 32°F is 89.9%. Freeze dates are conditional on that threshold occurring. Elevation 22.6 m. The same probability language applies to the 28°F and 36°F rows when those dates passed the same quality checks.
Planting calendar for Salinas · Zone 9b
Check a crop against this station
Salinas, CA
Zone 9bAverage annual extreme minimum 25°F to 30°F
Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%
California. Nearest qualified station: SALINAS MUNICIPAL AP, CA US (USW00023233), 2.3 miles. Median last 32°F January 29. Median first 32°F December 10. The 50% growing-season length is 325 days.
Open the ZIP page · Crop guides for California
32°F probabilities at this station
| 10% | 50% | 90% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F on or after | March 1 | January 29 | December 18 |
| First 32°F on or before | November 21 | December 10 | January 15 |
Column order matches the NCEI file: for the last freeze, 10% is the later date and 90% is the earlier date. How to read the probabilities.
Planting calendar
Windows below are from UC ANR, UC Master Gardener Program, Time of planting, retrieved 2026-10-10. North and North Coast = Monterey County north; South Coast = San Luis Obispo County south; Interior Valleys = Sacramento, San Joaquin, and similar valleys; Desert Valleys = Imperial and Coachella Valleys. Source line on the page: California Master Gardener Handbook, Table 13.2, Adapted from Vegetable Gardening Illustrated 1994.
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