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Will it freeze in Salinas in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Salinas 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.
- Tonight 50°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 50°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 50°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 52°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 51°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 52°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Rain
- Wed, Nov 11 52°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Light Rain
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 Salinas
Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at Salinas Municipal 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 | Feb 2 · Mar 9 · Apr 8 | Nov 4 · Nov 23 · Dec 14 | 257 days |
| 32°F freeze | Dec 18 · Jan 29 · Mar 1 | Nov 21 · Dec 10 · Jan 15 | 325 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Dec 6 · Dec 31 · Jan 31 | Dec 1 · Dec 25 · Jan 20 | 365 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Salinas Municipal 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 Salinas, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Salinas Municipal Airport (station USW00023233, elevation 74 ft), 2.3 mi from Salinas. 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 Salinas
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina, CA | 8.7 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 6 |
| Seaside, CA | 11 mi | Jan 2 | Dec 23 |
| Monterey, CA | 15 mi | rare | rare |
| Gonzales, CA | 17 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 10 |
| Pacific Grove, CA | 17 mi | rare | rare |
| Hollister, CA | 17 mi | Feb 19 | Dec 1 |
| Watsonville, CA | 18 mi | Jan 28 | Dec 13 |
| Gilroy, CA | 22 mi | Feb 24 | Nov 27 |
| Soledad, CA | 25 mi | Apr 23 | Nov 3 |
| Capitola, CA | 27 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 13 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Salinas?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Salinas is around January 29. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 1, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 18.
When is the first frost in Salinas?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 10. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 21 and a 90% chance by January 15.
Can it frost in Salinas 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 9.
What growing zone is Salinas?
Salinas 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 93905. See growing zones in California.
More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · UV index today in Salinas · frost vs. freeze