Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Lancaster, California

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Lancaster Wm J Fox Field, 3.9 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 3
First fall frostNov 1
211 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 31 year in 10 after Apr 23
First fall frostNov 11 year in 10 by Oct 17
Growing season211 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 8a10 to 15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Lancaster in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Lancaster 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 Lancaster

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 10, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Lancaster Wm J Fox Field. 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 Mar 31 · Apr 19 · May 5 Oct 7 · Oct 22 · Nov 3 185 days
32°F freeze Mar 8 · Apr 3 · Apr 23 Oct 17 · Nov 1 · Nov 14 211 days
28°F hard freeze Feb 14 · Mar 8 · Apr 7 Oct 28 · Nov 10 · Nov 26 244 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003159. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Lancaster Wm J Fox Field

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 Lancaster, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Lancaster Wm J Fox Field (station USW00003159, elevation 2,338 ft), 3.9 mi from Lancaster. 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 Lancaster

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Palmdale, CA 8.1 mi Mar 10 Nov 19
Santa Clarita, CA 27 mi rare rare
San Fernando, CA 32 mi rare rare
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 34 mi rare rare
Tehachapi, CA 35 mi Apr 28 Oct 26
Glendale, CA 35 mi Jan 2 Dec 26
California City, CA 36 mi Mar 15 Nov 17
Burbank, CA 36 mi Jan 2 Dec 26
Pasadena, CA 37 mi rare rare
Sierra Madre, CA 37 mi Apr 28 Nov 15

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Lancaster?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Lancaster is around April 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 8.

When is the first frost in Lancaster?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 1. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 17 and a 90% chance by November 14.

Can it frost in Lancaster 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 April 19.

What growing zone is Lancaster?

Lancaster is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 10 to 15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 93534. See growing zones in California.

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