Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Los Altos, California

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Moffett Federal Airfield, 3.7 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostJan 6
First fall frostDec 23
353 frost-free days
Last spring frostJan 61 year in 10 after Feb 4
First fall frostDec 231 year in 10 by Dec 3
Growing season353 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 9b25 to 30°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Los Altos in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 50°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 Los Altos

Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at Moffett Federal Airfield, 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 Jan 3 · Feb 6 · Mar 6 Nov 20 · Dec 6 · Dec 30 306 days
32°F freeze Dec 16 · Jan 6 · Feb 4 Dec 3 · Dec 23 · Jan 16 353 days
28°F hard freeze Dec 16 · Jan 1 · Jan 22 Dec 13 · Dec 31 · Jan 22 365 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023244. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Moffett Federal Airfield

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 Los Altos, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Moffett Federal Airfield (station USW00023244, elevation 39 ft), 3.7 mi from Los Altos. 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 Los Altos

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Los Altos Hills, CA 2.5 mi Mar 21 Dec 15
Mountain View, CA 2.5 mi Jan 6 Dec 23
Palo Alto, CA 3.1 mi Feb 1 Dec 7
Sunnyvale, CA 4.3 mi Jan 6 Dec 23
Cupertino, CA 4.3 mi Jan 6 Dec 23
Santa Clara, CA 6.8 mi Jan 12 Dec 22
East Palo Alto, CA 6.8 mi Feb 1 Dec 7
Saratoga, CA 8.1 mi Feb 2 Dec 6
Menlo Park, CA 8.1 mi Feb 1 Dec 7
Atherton, CA 8.7 mi Jan 17 Dec 12

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Los Altos?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Los Altos is around January 6. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after February 4, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 16.

When is the first frost in Los Altos?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 23. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by December 3 and a 90% chance by January 16.

Can it frost in Los Altos 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 Los Altos?

Los Altos 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 94040. See growing zones in California.

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