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Will it freeze in Shafter in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Shafter during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 47°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 47°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 47°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 49°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 50°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 50°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 51°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 53°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear then 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 Shafter
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 6, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Shafter 6E. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| 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 22 · Mar 20 · Apr 12 | Oct 20 · Nov 7 · Nov 22 | 230 days |
| 32°F freeze | Jan 17 · Feb 20 · Mar 9 | Nov 5 · Nov 23 · Dec 9 | 276 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Dec 22 · Jan 22 · Feb 22 | Nov 21 · Dec 6 · Jan 5 | 322 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Shafter 6E
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 Shafter, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Shafter 6E (station USC00048122, elevation 404 ft), 3.2 mi from Shafter. 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 Shafter
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasco, CA | 12 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 12 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 8 |
| McFarland, CA | 13 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 8 |
| Delano, CA | 20 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 8 |
| Taft, CA | 27 mi | Jan 24 | Dec 17 |
| Arvin, CA | 29 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 8 |
| Porterville, CA | 42 mi | Jan 20 | Dec 13 |
| Corcoran, CA | 47 mi | Feb 15 | Nov 27 |
| Tehachapi, CA | 48 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 26 |
| Tulare, CA | 50 mi | Jan 23 | Dec 13 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Shafter?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Shafter is around February 20. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 9, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after January 17.
When is the first frost in Shafter?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 23. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 5 and a 90% chance by December 9.
Can it frost in Shafter 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 20.
What growing zone is Shafter?
Shafter is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 20 to 25°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 93263. See growing zones in California.
More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · frost vs. freeze