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Will it freeze in Watsonville in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Watsonville during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 48°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 48°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 48°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 49°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 51°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 51°F Above 36°F · 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 Watsonville
Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at Watsonville Wtr Wks, 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 4 · Mar 15 · Apr 14 | Nov 8 · Nov 26 · Dec 12 | 252 days |
| 32°F freeze | Dec 23 · Jan 28 · Mar 3 | Nov 25 · Dec 13 · Jan 15 | 324 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Dec 13 · Jan 2 · Jan 30 | Dec 4 · Dec 26 · Jan 17 | 365 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Watsonville Wtr Wks
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 Watsonville, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Watsonville Wtr Wks (station USC00049473, elevation 95 ft), 0.6 mi from Watsonville. 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 Watsonville
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capitola, CA | 11 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 13 |
| Gilroy, CA | 12 mi | Feb 24 | Nov 27 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 15 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 13 |
| Scotts Valley, CA | 16 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 11 |
| Morgan Hill, CA | 16 mi | Feb 24 | Nov 27 |
| Marina, CA | 17 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 6 |
| Salinas, CA | 18 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 10 |
| Seaside, CA | 21 mi | Jan 2 | Dec 23 |
| Hollister, CA | 21 mi | Feb 19 | Dec 1 |
| Pacific Grove, CA | 22 mi | rare | rare |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Watsonville?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Watsonville is around January 28. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 3, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 23.
When is the first frost in Watsonville?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 13. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 25 and a 90% chance by January 15.
Can it frost in Watsonville 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 15.
What growing zone is Watsonville?
Watsonville 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 95019. See growing zones in California.
More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · UV index today in Watsonville · frost vs. freeze