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Will it freeze in Imperial in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Imperial during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 56°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 56°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 60°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 58°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 58°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 59°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 57°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 56°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 Imperial
Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at Imperial County Airport, 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 9 · Feb 5 · Mar 1 | Nov 23 · Dec 8 · Dec 27 | 305 days |
| 32°F freeze | Dec 18 · Jan 14 · Feb 15 | Dec 2 · Dec 24 · Jan 24 | 346 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Dec 18 · Jan 8 · Feb 7 | Dec 17 · Jan 5 · Feb 4 | 365 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Imperial County 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 Imperial, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Imperial County Airport (station USW00003144, elevation -58 ft), 0.5 mi from Imperial. 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 Imperial
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 3.7 mi | Jan 3 | Dec 27 |
| Brawley, CA | 9.9 mi | Jan 16 | Dec 19 |
| Holtville, CA | 11 mi | Jan 3 | Dec 27 |
| Calexico, CA | 12 mi | Jan 3 | Dec 27 |
| Calipatria, CA | 24 mi | Jan 16 | Dec 19 |
| Somerton, AZ | 53 mi | Jan 8 | Dec 28 |
| San Luis, AZ | 55 mi | Jan 8 | Dec 28 |
| Yuma, AZ | 65 mi | Jan 8 | Dec 28 |
| Coachella, CA | 68 mi | rare | rare |
| La Quinta, CA | 69 mi | rare | rare |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Imperial?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Imperial is around January 14. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after February 15, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 18.
When is the first frost in Imperial?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 24. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by December 2 and a 90% chance by January 24.
Can it frost in Imperial 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 5.
What growing zone is Imperial?
Imperial 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 · frost vs. freeze