Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for El Centro, California

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at El Centro 2 Ssw, 1.4 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostJan 3
First fall frostDec 27
363 frost-free days
Last spring frostJan 31 year in 10 after Feb 4
First fall frostDec 271 year in 10 by Dec 9
Growing season363 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 10a30 to 35°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in El Centro in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 59°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 El Centro

Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at El Centro 2 Ssw, according to NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals. Check the short-term forecast above during cold snaps.

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 Dec 27 · Jan 22 · Feb 22 Nov 30 · Dec 17 · Jan 9 327 days
32°F freeze Dec 15 · Jan 3 · Feb 4 Dec 9 · Dec 27 · Jan 26 363 days
28°F hard freeze Dec 15 · Jan 1 · Feb 4 Dec 15 · Dec 31 · Feb 4 365 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00042713. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at El Centro 2 Ssw

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 Centro, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: El Centro 2 Ssw (station USC00042713, elevation -30 ft), 1.4 mi from El Centro. 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 Centro

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Imperial, CA 3.7 mi Jan 14 Dec 24
Calexico, CA 8.1 mi Jan 3 Dec 27
Holtville, CA 11 mi Jan 3 Dec 27
Brawley, CA 14 mi Jan 16 Dec 19
Calipatria, CA 27 mi Jan 16 Dec 19
Somerton, AZ 52 mi Jan 8 Dec 28
San Luis, AZ 53 mi Jan 8 Dec 28
Yuma, AZ 63 mi Jan 8 Dec 28
Coachella, CA 71 mi rare rare
La Quinta, CA 72 mi rare rare

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in El Centro?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in El Centro is around January 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after February 4, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 15.

When is the first frost in El Centro?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 27. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by December 9 and a 90% chance by January 26.

Can it frost in El Centro 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 January 22.

What growing zone is El Centro?

El Centro 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 92243. See growing zones in California.

More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · UV index today in El Centro · frost vs. freeze