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

Planting zone for 96016 — Cassel, CA

ZIP code 96016 (Cassel, Shasta County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 29 and the first fall frost September 19.

Where ZIP 96016 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostMay 29
First frostSep 19
2012 zone7a

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 Service

Loading the forecast for Cassel, 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 Cassel, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 19median — 10% chance by Sep 5
Growing season113 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Hat Creek, CA — 3 miles away, elevation 3,015 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 96016

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 1 – May 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 8 – May 22
LettuceSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 12 – Jun 26
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 25 – Aug 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 5 – Oct 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 29) and first fall frost (Sep 19) 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 96016 came on Feb 28 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

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 Cassel, CA

The center of ZIP 96016 is mapped as Lava Flow.: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 96016; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cassel, CA

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days61days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights179nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,240base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation19.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall11 inper year; 8 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 22 °F 48°22° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 24 °F 53°24° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 28 °F 58°28° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 32 °F 64°32° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 38 °F 74°38° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 43 °F 82°43° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 47 °F 91°47° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 44 °F 91°44° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 38 °F 85°38° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 30 °F 71°30° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 26 °F 56°26° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 22 °F 46°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.02 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.62 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 2.6❄2 FebMarch: 2.68 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.7❄1 MarApril: 1.84 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 1.8❄1 AprMay: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 MayJune: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 0.16 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.17 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 SepOctober: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 2.11 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.1 NovDecember: 3.03 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 3.0❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hat Creek, CA (3 mi away); precipitation: Hat Creek, CA (3 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.

960407a
Hat Creek, CA · 7 mi
960287b
Fall River Mills, CA · 8 mi
960137b
Burney, CA · 11 mi
960717a
Old Station, CA · 14 mi
960567a
Mcarthur, CA · 16 mi
960849a
Round Mountain, CA · 20 mi
960118b
Big Bend, CA · 23 mi
960659a
Montgomery Creek, CA · 23 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 96016

What planting zone is ZIP code 96016?

ZIP code 96016 (Cassel, 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 Cassel, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96016 is May 29; after June 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hat Creek station.

When is the first frost in Cassel, CA?

The median first fall frost near 96016 is September 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 113 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96016?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 3 – Apr 17 and set transplants outside around Jun 5 – Jun 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 96016 get?

About 19.3 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hat Creek station).

How hot do summers get in Cassel, CA?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 61 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Cassel, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 96016 came on Feb 28 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Cassel, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 96016 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 96016 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 96016 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.