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Will it freeze in Fortuna in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Fortuna during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 43°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 43°F Above 36°F · Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 45°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 48°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
- Sun, Nov 8 46°F Above 36°F · Patchy 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 Fortuna
Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at Scotia, 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 | Feb 1 · Mar 14 · Apr 9 | Nov 1 · Nov 23 · Dec 23 | 255 days |
| 32°F freeze | Dec 17 · Feb 1 · Mar 8 | Nov 19 · Dec 19 · Feb 10 | 328 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Dec 15 · Jan 3 · Jan 31 | Dec 7 · Dec 31 · Jan 28 | 365 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Scotia
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 Fortuna, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Scotia (station USC00048045, elevation 136 ft), 7.5 mi from Fortuna. 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 Fortuna
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka, CA | 14 mi | Feb 22 | Dec 7 |
| Arcata, CA | 19 mi | Feb 22 | Dec 7 |
| Fort Bragg, CA | 81 mi | Mar 2 | Dec 1 |
| Crescent City, CA | 81 mi | Jan 30 | Dec 25 |
| Shasta Lake, CA | 93 mi | Feb 8 | Dec 28 |
| Redding, CA | 93 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 21 |
| Anderson, CA | 98 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 21 |
| Brookings, OR | 103 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 27 |
| Red Bluff, CA | 104 mi | Feb 22 | Nov 29 |
| Yreka, CA | 111 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 18 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Fortuna?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Fortuna is around February 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 8, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 17.
When is the first frost in Fortuna?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 19. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 19 and a 90% chance by February 10.
Can it frost in Fortuna 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 14.
What growing zone is Fortuna?
Fortuna 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 95540. See growing zones in California.
More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · frost vs. freeze