Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Petaluma, California

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Petaluma Airport, 1.6 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostFeb 28
First fall frostNov 25
271 frost-free days
Last spring frostFeb 281 year in 10 after Apr 6
First fall frostNov 251 year in 10 by Nov 9
Growing season271 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 9b25 to 30°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Petaluma in the next 6 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Petaluma during the next 6 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 6 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 Petaluma

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 9, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Petaluma Airport. 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 7 · Apr 6 · Apr 27 Oct 27 · Nov 10 · Nov 28 218 days
32°F freeze Jan 24 · Feb 28 · Apr 6 Nov 9 · Nov 25 · Dec 16 271 days
28°F hard freeze Dec 17 · Jan 17 · Feb 24 Nov 20 · Dec 9 · Jan 12 331 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00046826. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Petaluma 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 Petaluma, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Petaluma Airport (station USC00046826, elevation 20 ft), 1.6 mi from Petaluma. 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 Petaluma

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Cotati, CA 7.5 mi Feb 28 Nov 25
Rohnert Park, CA 8.1 mi Feb 25 Dec 1
Sonoma, CA 9.9 mi Mar 2 Nov 27
Novato, CA 12 mi Jan 11 Dec 21
Santa Rosa, CA 15 mi Feb 25 Dec 1
Sebastopol, CA 16 mi Mar 20 Nov 13
Fairfax, CA 17 mi Jan 11 Dec 21
Napa, CA 18 mi Feb 12 Dec 4
San Anselmo, CA 18 mi Jan 11 Dec 21
San Rafael, CA 19 mi Jan 11 Dec 21

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Petaluma?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Petaluma is around February 28. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 6, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after January 24.

When is the first frost in Petaluma?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 25. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 9 and a 90% chance by December 16.

Can it frost in Petaluma 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 6.

What growing zone is Petaluma?

Petaluma 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 94954. See growing zones in California.

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