Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for Imperial Beach, CA

Imperial Beach, CA is in USDA zone 10b across its 2 ZIP codes.

Imperial Beach on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone10b35 to 40 °F

ZIP codes2

Last frostrare

First frostrare

Growing seasonall year

10b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates

A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station San Diego Brown Field, CA, elevation 515 ft) the median growing season is 365 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.

Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 91933 came on Jan 19 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 21).

average
Jan 212026
Jan 19

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Soil in Imperial Beach, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 91933 is Huerhuero — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables

pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter1.5%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly

Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Huerhuero-Urban land complex, 2 to 9 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 91933; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Imperial Beach, CA

Summer high75 °Faverage high, August

Winter low46 °Faverage low, December

Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights0nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days4,519base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 18 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day10 h 00 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb

Precipitation8.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Imperial Beach Ream Field NAS, CA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Imperial Beach Ream Field NAS, CA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.