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Will it freeze in Arcata in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Arcata during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 41°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM PST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM PST.
No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.
- Tonight 41°F Above 36°F · Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 44°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 48°F Above 36°F · Chance Light Rain
- Sun, Nov 8 46°F Above 36°F · Areas Of Fog
- Mon, Nov 9 47°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 50°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
- Wed, Nov 11 47°F Above 36°F · Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Arcata
Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at Eureka WFO Woodley Island, according to NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals. Check the short-term forecast above during cold snaps.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | Mar 1 · Apr 1 · Apr 22 | Oct 25 · Nov 12 · Dec 4 | 223 days |
| 32°F freeze | Dec 31 · Feb 22 · Mar 23 | Nov 15 · Dec 7 · Jan 11 | 293 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Dec 11 · Jan 3 · Feb 8 | Dec 3 · Dec 25 · Jan 29 | 365 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Eureka WFO Woodley Island
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Arcata, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Eureka WFO Woodley Island (station USW00024213, elevation 20 ft), 5.8 mi from Arcata. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Arcata
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka, CA | 6.2 mi | Feb 22 | Dec 7 |
| Fortuna, CA | 19 mi | Feb 1 | Dec 19 |
| Crescent City, CA | 63 mi | Jan 30 | Dec 25 |
| Brookings, OR | 85 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 27 |
| Shasta Lake, CA | 89 mi | Feb 8 | Dec 28 |
| Redding, CA | 92 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 21 |
| Yreka, CA | 96 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 18 |
| Anderson, CA | 98 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 21 |
| Fort Bragg, CA | 99 mi | Mar 2 | Dec 1 |
| Red Bluff, CA | 107 mi | Feb 22 | Nov 29 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Arcata?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Arcata is around February 22. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 31.
When is the first frost in Arcata?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 7. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 15 and a 90% chance by January 11.
Can it frost in Arcata after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after April 1.
What growing zone is Arcata?
Arcata is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 25 to 30°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 95521. See growing zones in California.
More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · frost vs. freeze