Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Chowchilla, California

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Madera Municipal Airport, 11 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostFeb 12
First fall frostNov 30
293 frost-free days
Last spring frostFeb 121 year in 10 after Mar 17
First fall frostNov 301 year in 10 by Nov 14
Growing season293 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 9a20 to 25°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Chowchilla in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Chowchilla during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 45°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.

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 Chowchilla

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Madera Municipal Airport. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast 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 Feb 24 · Mar 23 · Apr 17 Oct 30 · Nov 15 · Dec 1 235 days
32°F freeze Jan 6 · Feb 12 · Mar 17 Nov 14 · Nov 30 · Jan 3 293 days
28°F hard freeze Dec 11 · Jan 7 · Feb 12 Nov 24 · Dec 15 · Jan 19 341 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093242. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Madera Municipal Airport

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 Chowchilla, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Madera Municipal Airport (station USW00093242, elevation 253 ft), 11 mi from Chowchilla. 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 Chowchilla

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Madera, CA 14 mi Feb 12 Nov 30
Merced, CA 19 mi Mar 3 Nov 24
Firebaugh, CA 22 mi Feb 12 Nov 30
Dos Palos, CA 24 mi Jan 26 Dec 10
Atwater, CA 25 mi Mar 3 Nov 24
Mendota, CA 26 mi Feb 12 Nov 30
Kerman, CA 29 mi Feb 18 Nov 27
Livingston, CA 32 mi Jan 6 Dec 20
Los Banos, CA 33 mi Jan 26 Dec 10
Fresno, CA 34 mi Jan 14 Dec 14

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Chowchilla?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Chowchilla is around February 12. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 17, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after January 6.

When is the first frost in Chowchilla?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 30. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 14 and a 90% chance by January 3.

Can it frost in Chowchilla 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 March 23.

What growing zone is Chowchilla?

Chowchilla is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 20 to 25°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 93610. See growing zones in California.

More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · frost vs. freeze