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

Planting zone for 96048 — Junction City, CA

ZIP code 96048 (Junction City, Trinity County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 96048 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 11
2012 zone8b

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 Service

Loading the forecast for Junction City, 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 Junction City, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Weaverville, CA — 8 miles away, elevation 2,057 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 96048

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 96048 came on Feb 13 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7).

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 Junction City, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96048 is Pardaloe — very gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pardaloe-Goulding complex, 50 to 75 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 96048; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Junction City, CA

Summer high95 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days85days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights106nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,089base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 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)
Precipitation37.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall9 inper year; 6 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 33 °F 61°33° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 36 °F 68°36° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 42 °F 77°42° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 46 °F 86°46° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 52 °F 95°52° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 50 °F 95°50° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 44 °F 89°44° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 36 °F 75°36° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 31 °F 47°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.68 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 6.7❄2 JanFebruary: 5.69 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 5.7❄1 FebMarch: 5.01 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.0 MarApril: 2.62 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.6 AprMay: 1.86 in precipitation 1.9 MayJune: 0.93 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.17 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 OctNovember: 4.33 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.3❄1 NovDecember: 7.67 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 7.7❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Weaverville, CA (8 mi away); precipitation: Weaverville, CA (8 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.

960938b
Weaverville, CA · 6 mi
960108b
Big Bar, CA · 14 mi
960528b
Lewiston, CA · 16 mi
960917b
Trinity Center, CA · 19 mi
960248b
Douglas City, CA · 21 mi
955278b
Burnt Ranch, CA · 22 mi
960418b
Hayfork, CA · 24 mi
960318b
Forks Of Salmon, CA · 26 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 96048

What planting zone is ZIP code 96048?

ZIP code 96048 (Junction City, 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 Junction City, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96048 is May 3; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Weaverville station.

When is the first frost in Junction City, CA?

The median first fall frost near 96048 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96048?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 96048 get?

About 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Weaverville station).

How hot do summers get in Junction City, CA?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in July, with about 85 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 96048 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pardaloe at the center of ZIP 96048: very gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Junction City, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 96048 came on Feb 13 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Junction City, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 96048 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).