Planting zone for 96010 — Big Bar, CA
ZIP code 96010 (Big Bar, Trinity County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 21.
Where ZIP 96010 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.
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 8b means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Big Bar, 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 Bar, CA
A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 2 and returns around November 6.
From the NOAA station Cecilville, CA — 14 miles away, elevation 2,310 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 96010
Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 96010 came on Mar 7 — 31 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).
Apr 72026
Mar 7
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 Bar, CA
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96010 is Lithic xerorthents — very gravelly loam, somewhat excessively drained.
Map unit: Rock outcrop-Lithic Xerorthents-Lithic Xerochrepts association, moderately steep to steep..
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 96010; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Big Bar, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cecilville, CA (14 mi away); precipitation: Big Bar 4 E, CA (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
Questions about 96010
What planting zone is ZIP code 96010?
ZIP code 96010 (Big Bar, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).
When is the last frost in Big Bar, CA?
The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96010 is April 27; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cecilville station.
When is the first frost in Big Bar, CA?
The median first fall frost near 96010 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 176 days.
When should I plant tomatoes in 96010?
Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.
How much rain and snow does 96010 get?
About 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Big Bar 4 E station).
How hot do summers get in Big Bar, CA?
The average high peaks at 96 °F in July, with about 73 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 96010 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Lithic xerorthents at the center of ZIP 96010: very gravelly loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.8 (moderately acidic).
Did spring come early in Big Bar, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 96010 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 31 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Big Bar, CA?
Long-day onions: the longest day near 96010 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).