Frost Dates
Frost Dates · California

Frost dates for Stockton, California

California · first & last freeze, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals

Typical last spring freeze (32°F)
February 5
median date, 1991–2020
Typical first fall freeze (32°F)
December 8
median date, 1991–2020
Typical frost-free season
306 days
between the median dates

In a typical year, the last spring freeze around Stockton comes near February 5 and the first fall freeze near December 8. One year in ten, a freeze still arrives after March 11 in spring — and one year in ten, the first fall freeze has already landed by November 17. NCEI's own growing-season statistic (days between freezes, percentiled per year) puts the median at 305 days.

JFMAMJJASONDFebruary 5December 8
The year at a glance: blue bands span the 9-in-10 to 1-in-10 range where the last spring / first fall 32°F freeze lands; the green band is the typical frost-free window between the median dates. Measured at Stockton Fire Stn 4, CA (USC00048560), 1.7 mi from the city's census reference point, elev. 12 ft. NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals.

Freeze-date probabilities, three thresholds

ThresholdLast spring — 9 in 10 years past byLast spring — typical (median)Last spring — 1 in 10 years later thanFirst fall — 1 in 10 years byFirst fall — typical (median)First fall — 9 in 10 years by
36°F — near-freezing (frost can occur)February 1March 4April 13November 3November 20December 13
32°F — freezingDecember 27February 5March 11November 17December 8January 6
28°F — hard freezeDecember 12January 11February 21December 1December 23January 29

Measured at Stockton Fire Stn 4, CA (USC00048560), 1.7 mi from the city's census reference point, elev. 12 ft. NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals. Read each date column as odds over the 30-year record — e.g. "9 in 10 years past by" means only one spring in ten saw a later freeze than that date.

Frost-free windows (computed)

Window (32°F ends)OpensClosesLength
Cautious (1-in-10 freeze risk at each end)March 11November 17251 days
Typical (median freeze dates)February 5December 8306 days
Gambler's (9-in-10 freeze risk at each end)December 27January 6365 days (effectively year-round at this risk level)

Pure arithmetic on the freeze-date percentiles above — the "cautious" window opens on the date only 1 year in 10 still sees a later spring freeze, and closes on the date by which only 1 year in 10 has already frozen.

About this city's numbers

More California cities

Los Angeles · San Diego · San Jose · San Francisco · Fresno · Sacramento · Long Beach · Oakland · all of California →