Frost dates / California / San Rafael
Frost dates in San Rafael, CA
The station on this page is SAN RAFAEL CIVIC CTR, CA US (USC00047880), 2 miles from the city point. Population in the Census 2024 estimate is 59,961.
Zone 10aUSDA average annual extreme minimum 30°F to 35°F, from ZIP 94901 (0.3 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 14 | Earlier date. A last 32°F on or after this day is common. |
| 50% | January 11 | Median. |
| 10% | February 25 | 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% | December 2 | Earlier date. A first 32°F on or before this day is uncommon. |
| 50% | December 21 | Median. |
| 90% | February 9 | 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% | 365 |
| 50% | 349 |
| 90% | 304 |
28°F threshold
| 10% | 50% | 90% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last, on or after | February 21 | December 31 | December 11 |
| First, on or before | December 7 | December 29 | February 18 |
| Season at least | 365 days | 365 days | 349 days |
36°F threshold
| 10% | 50% | 90% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last, on or after | April 6 | February 22 | January 6 |
| First, on or before | November 15 | December 5 | January 1 |
| Season at least | 332 days | 287 days | 241 days |
Station SAN RAFAEL CIVIC CTR, CA US (USC00047880). Completeness flag R, 26 years used for the 32°F dates. NCEI’s annual probability of at least one day at or below 32°F is 69.8%. Freeze dates are conditional on that threshold occurring. Elevation 36.6 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 San Rafael · Zone 10a
Check a crop against this station
San Rafael, CA
Zone 10aAverage annual extreme minimum 30°F to 35°F
Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%
California. Nearest qualified station: SAN RAFAEL CIVIC CTR, CA US (USC00047880), 2 miles. Median last 32°F January 11. Median first 32°F December 21. The 50% growing-season length is 349 days.
Open the ZIP page · Crop guides for California
32°F probabilities at this station
| 10% | 50% | 90% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F on or after | February 25 | January 11 | December 14 |
| First 32°F on or before | December 2 | December 21 | February 9 |
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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