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

Planting zone for 92531 — Lake Elsinore, CA

ZIP code 92531 (Lake Elsinore, Riverside County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is January 28 and the first fall frost December 18.

Where ZIP 92531 is

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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
Coldest night−3.9 to −1.1 °C
Last frostJan 28
First frostDec 18
2012 zone9b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 9b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lake Elsinore, 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 Lake Elsinore, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJanuary 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsFebruary 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 18median — 10% chance by Dec 1
Growing season329 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 1 and returns around December 27.

From the NOAA station Elsinore, CA — 2 miles away, elevation 1,270 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 92531

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 17 – Jan 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 19 – Dec 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 3 – Dec 17
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 19 – Dec 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 11 – Feb 25
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 23 – Nov 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 4 – Jan 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jan 28) and first fall frost (Dec 18) 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 92531 came on Jan 18 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24).

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 Lake Elsinore, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 92531 is Honcut — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Honcut sandy loam, 2 to 8 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 92531; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lake Elsinore, CA

Summer high98 °Faverage high, August
Winter low40 °Faverage low, December
Hot days123days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights9nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,940base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation11.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 58 °F 90°58° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 64 °F 97°64° JulAugust: average high 98 °F, low 65 °F 98°65° AugSeptember: average high 93 °F, low 61 °F 93°61° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 54 °F 83°54° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 0.54 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.5 AprMay: 0.21 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.06 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.17 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 OctNovember: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elsinore, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: Elsinore, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

925329b
Lake Elsinore, CA · 2 mi
9253010a
Lake Elsinore, CA · 3 mi
925879b
Quail Valley, CA · 5 mi
925959b
Wildomar, CA · 5 mi
925709b
Perris, CA · 8 mi
925869b
Sun City, CA · 8 mi
925849b
Menifee, CA · 8 mi
9256210a
Murrieta, CA · 10 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Lake Elsinore → · California planting zones →

Questions about 92531

What planting zone is ZIP code 92531?

ZIP code 92531 (Lake Elsinore, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 25 to 30 °F (−3.9 to −1.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Lake Elsinore, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 92531 is January 28; after February 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elsinore station.

When is the first frost in Lake Elsinore, CA?

The median first fall frost near 92531 is December 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 329 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 92531?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 3 – Dec 17 and set transplants outside around Feb 4 – Feb 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 92531 get?

About 11.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elsinore station).

How hot do summers get in Lake Elsinore, CA?

The average high peaks at 98 °F in August, with about 123 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 92531 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Honcut at the center of ZIP 92531: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Lake Elsinore, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 92531 came on Jan 18 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lake Elsinore, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 92531 is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.