Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for San Luis Obispo, California

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at San Luis Obispo Airport, 2.5 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostJan 31
First fall frostDec 11
319 frost-free days
Last spring frostJan 311 year in 10 after Mar 7
First fall frostDec 111 year in 10 by Nov 20
Growing season319 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 9b25 to 30°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in San Luis Obispo in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 56°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM PST to Sat, Nov 7, 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 San Luis Obispo

Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at San Luis Obispo Airport, 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 Feb 6 · Mar 17 · Apr 16 Nov 3 · Nov 24 · Dec 11 250 days
32°F freeze Dec 23 · Jan 31 · Mar 7 Nov 20 · Dec 11 · Jan 13 319 days
28°F hard freeze Dec 11 · Jan 3 · Feb 1 Dec 4 · Dec 28 · Jan 26 365 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093206. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at San Luis Obispo 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 San Luis Obispo, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: San Luis Obispo Airport (station USW00093206, elevation 200 ft), 2.5 mi from San Luis Obispo. 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 San Luis Obispo

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Pismo Beach, CA 8.1 mi Feb 1 Jan 4
Grover Beach, CA 11 mi Feb 1 Jan 4
Arroyo Grande, CA 11 mi Feb 1 Jan 4
Morro Bay, CA 13 mi rare rare
Atascadero, CA 15 mi Mar 15 Nov 10
Guadalupe, CA 22 mi Feb 4 Dec 13
Paso Robles, CA 25 mi Mar 15 Nov 10
Santa Maria, CA 26 mi Feb 4 Dec 13
Lompoc, CA 43 mi Jan 20 Dec 19
Buellton, CA 52 mi Apr 11 Nov 8

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in San Luis Obispo?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in San Luis Obispo is around January 31. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 7, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 23.

When is the first frost in San Luis Obispo?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 11. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 20 and a 90% chance by January 13.

Can it frost in San Luis Obispo 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 17.

What growing zone is San Luis Obispo?

San Luis Obispo 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 93410. See growing zones in California.

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