Frost dates for 93120Santa Barbara, CA
Frost occurs in about 11% of years near Santa Barbara, based on NOAA 1991-2020 records for the Santa Barbara, CA station.
Frost occurs in about 11% of years. Frost-tender plants can usually grow year-round, but cover them if a rare cold snap is forecast.
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Dec 12 · Jan 11 · Feb 21 | Dec 5 · Dec 30 · Feb 10 | 365 days | 48% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Dec 12 · Jan 13 · Feb 24 | Dec 12 · Jan 6 · Feb 22 | 365 days | 11% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | — | — | 365 days | 3% |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 93120 is matched to the NOAA station Santa Barbara, CA, 1.3 km away, at 16 ft elevation (23 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara, CA (used) | 16 ft | Jan 13 | Jan 6 |
| Gibraltar Dam #2, CA | 1,558 ft | Mar 20 | Nov 27 |
| Santa Barbara Muni Ap, CA | 9 ft | Jan 11 | Dec 16 |
| Santa Barbara 11 W, CA | 18 ft | Dec 31 | Dec 20 |
Frost dates near Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara, CA 93102 · last Jan 13, first Jan 6
- Summerland, CA 93067 · last Jan 13, first Jan 6
- Goleta, CA 93116 · last Jan 11, first Dec 16
- Carpinteria, CA 93013 · last Jan 13, first Jan 6
- Ventura, CA 93001 · last Mar 21, first Nov 15
- Oak View, CA 93022 · last Mar 21, first Nov 15
- Ojai, CA 93023 · last Mar 21, first Nov 15
- Santa Ynez, CA 93460 · last Apr 11, first Nov 8
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Santa Barbara, CA?
- Frost occurs in about 11% of years at the nearest NOAA station (Santa Barbara, CA), so there is no reliable average last frost date.
- When is the first frost in Santa Barbara, CA?
- Frost occurs in about 11% of years at the nearest NOAA station.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.