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Will it freeze in El Cajon in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in El Cajon during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Overnight: forecast low 54°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 5:00 AM PST to Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 AM PST.
No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.
- Overnight 54°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tonight 55°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 57°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 59°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 60°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 59°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 57°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 El Cajon
Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at El Cajon, 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 | Jan 6 · Feb 6 · Mar 3 | Nov 18 · Dec 6 · Dec 29 | 300 days |
| 32°F freeze | Dec 13 · Jan 6 · Feb 7 | Dec 1 · Dec 21 · Jan 15 | 350 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Dec 8 · Dec 31 · Jan 15 | Dec 7 · Dec 30 · Jan 14 | 365 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at El Cajon
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 El Cajon, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: El Cajon (station USC00042706, elevation 495 ft), 1.9 mi from El Cajon. 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 El Cajon
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santee, CA | 3.7 mi | Jan 6 | Dec 21 |
| La Mesa, CA | 4.3 mi | Jan 6 | Dec 21 |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 6.2 mi | Jan 6 | Dec 21 |
| San Diego, CA | 9.3 mi | Jan 6 | Dec 21 |
| National City, CA | 12 mi | rare | rare |
| Chula Vista, CA | 12 mi | rare | rare |
| Poway, CA | 13 mi | rare | rare |
| Coronado, CA | 15 mi | rare | rare |
| Imperial Beach, CA | 19 mi | rare | rare |
| Solana Beach, CA | 22 mi | rare | rare |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in El Cajon?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in El Cajon is around January 6. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after February 7, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 13.
When is the first frost in El Cajon?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 21. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by December 1 and a 90% chance by January 15.
Can it frost in El Cajon 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 February 6.
What growing zone is El Cajon?
El Cajon is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 10a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 30 to 35°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 92020. See growing zones in California.
More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · UV index today in El Cajon · frost vs. freeze