Last frost date in Santa Barbara, California
January 13
Average last frost in spring. In an early year (1 in 10) it's over by December 12; in a late year (1 in 10) it comes after February 24.
January 6
Average first frost in fall. 1 year in 10 it comes by December 12.
A 32°F night happens here about 1 years in 10; in those years these are the usual dates.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Santa Barbara (USC00047902), 1.9 miles from Santa Barbara, elevation 16 ft. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
This station is also the nearest one for Carpinteria, so its frost dates are the same as Santa Barbara's.
| Early year | Average | Late year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last frost in spring | Dec 12 | Jan 13 | Feb 24 |
| First frost in fall | Dec 12 | Jan 6 | Feb 22 |
Frost-free days in an average year: 365
| Chance in a year | Average last in spring | Average first in fall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | 5 years in 10 | Jan 11 | Dec 30 |
| Frost (32°F) | 1 years in 10 | Jan 13 | Jan 6 |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Under 1 year in 20 | — | — |
Nights at 32°F or colder in an average year: 0.4
What to plant now in Santa Barbara
USDA's planting table covers places whose average last freeze is between January 30 and June 10, and whose first freeze is between August 30 and December 20. Santa Barbara's frost dates fall outside it, so we don't give planting dates for it.
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5. How we match the table.
Nearby in California
- Goleta 9 mi · last frost Jan 11
- Oxnard 32 mi · last frost Dec 31
- Port Hueneme 34 mi · last frost Dec 29
- Lompoc 47 mi · last frost Jan 20
- Santa Maria 55 mi · last frost Feb 4