Planting zone for 92315 — Big Bear Lake, CA
ZIP code 92315 (Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 27 and the first fall frost October 4.
Where ZIP 92315 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
Was 7a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7b means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Big Bear Lake, CA…
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 in Big Bear Lake, CA
A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 20.
From the NOAA station Big Bear Lake, CA — 2 miles away, elevation 6,752 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.
When to plant vegetables in 92315
Counted from the median last spring frost (May 27) and first fall frost (Oct 4) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.
When spring arrived in 2026
In 2026, spring leaf-out near 92315 came on Feb 20 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).
Mar 142026
Feb 20
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 Big Bear Lake, CA
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 92315 is Pacifico — gravelly coarse sand, excessively drained.
Map unit: Pacifico-Groutcreek-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 30 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 92315; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Big Bear Lake, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Big Bear Lake, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: Big Bear Lake, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
Questions about 92315
What planting zone is ZIP code 92315?
ZIP code 92315 (Big Bear Lake, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).
When is the last frost in Big Bear Lake, CA?
The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 92315 is May 27; after June 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Big Bear Lake station.
When is the first frost in Big Bear Lake, CA?
The median first fall frost near 92315 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 131 days.
When should I plant tomatoes in 92315?
Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 1 – Apr 15 and set transplants outside around Jun 3 – Jun 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.
How much rain and snow does 92315 get?
About 20 inches of precipitation a year and 59 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Big Bear Lake station).
How hot do summers get in Big Bear Lake, CA?
The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 92315 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Pacifico at the center of ZIP 92315: gravelly coarse sand, excessively drained, pH about 5.4 (strongly acidic).
Did spring come early in Big Bear Lake, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 92315 came on Feb 20 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Big Bear Lake, CA?
Intermediate onions: the longest day near 92315 is 14 h 26 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.
Did the zone for 92315 change?
Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 92315 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.