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Will it freeze in Chico in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Chico during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 46°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 46°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 47°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 49°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 48°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 48°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 49°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
- Wed, Nov 11 48°F Above 36°F · Chance Light Rain
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 Chico
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 3, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Chico University Farm. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| 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 13 · Apr 5 · Apr 21 | Oct 21 · Nov 4 · Nov 19 | 214 days |
| 32°F freeze | Feb 8 · Mar 4 · Apr 2 | Nov 1 · Nov 17 · Dec 5 | 257 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Jan 1 · Feb 5 · Mar 1 | Nov 13 · Dec 3 · Jan 5 | 307 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Chico University Farm
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 Chico, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Chico University Farm (station USC00041715, elevation 185 ft), 4.7 mi from Chico. 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 Chico
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paradise, CA | 11 mi | Feb 7 | Dec 18 |
| Orland, CA | 19 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 2 |
| Corning, CA | 22 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 2 |
| Oroville, CA | 23 mi | Jan 30 | Dec 13 |
| Willows, CA | 26 mi | Feb 21 | Dec 6 |
| Gridley, CA | 28 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 7 |
| Live Oak, CA | 34 mi | Jan 15 | Dec 12 |
| Red Bluff, CA | 37 mi | Feb 22 | Nov 29 |
| Colusa, CA | 40 mi | Feb 14 | Dec 1 |
| Marysville, CA | 43 mi | Jan 15 | Dec 12 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Chico?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Chico is around March 4. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 2, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after February 8.
When is the first frost in Chico?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 17. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 1 and a 90% chance by December 5.
Can it frost in Chico 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 5.
What growing zone is Chico?
Chico 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 95926. See growing zones in California.
More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · UV index today in Chico · frost vs. freeze