When is the last frost in Berkeley, CA?

Frost occurs in about 3% of years at the nearest NOAA station (Oakland Museum, CA), so there is no reliable average last frost date.

When is the first frost in Berkeley, CA?

Frost occurs in about 3% 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.

Frost dates for 94702Berkeley, CA

Frost occurs in about 3% of years near Berkeley, based on NOAA 1991-2020 records for the Oakland Museum, CA station.

Frost occurs in about 3% 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.

Spring dates: chance of a frost AFTER the date. Fall dates: chance of a frost BEFORE the date.
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 16 · Jan 5 · Feb 9	Dec 7 · Dec 26 · Jan 23	360 days	58%
Frost / freeze (32°F)	—	—	365 days	3%
Hard freeze (28°F)	—	—	365 days	0%

Where these dates come from

ZIP code 94702 is matched to the NOAA station Oakland Museum, CA, 7.7 km away, at 30 ft elevation (55 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:

Station	Elevation	Avg last frost	Avg first frost
Oakland Museum, CA (used)	30 ft	—	—
Berkeley, CA	310 ft	Jan 3	Jan 1
Richmond, CA	20 ft	Jan 4	Jan 2
San Francisco Dwtn, CA	150 ft	—	—

Frost dates near Berkeley

Berkeley, CA 94703 · last Jan 3, first Jan 1
Albany, CA 94706 · last Jan 4, first Jan 2
Emeryville, CA 94608 · last —, first —
Oakland, CA 94609 · last —, first —
El Cerrito, CA 94530 · last Jan 3, first Jan 1
Piedmont, CA 94620 · last Jan 3, first Jan 1
Richmond, CA 94804 · last Jan 4, first Jan 2
San Francisco, CA 94130 · last —, first —

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Berkeley, CA?: Frost occurs in about 3% of years at the nearest NOAA station (Oakland Museum, CA), so there is no reliable average last frost date.
When is the first frost in Berkeley, CA?: Frost occurs in about 3% 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.