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

Planting zone for 96050 — Klamath River, CA

ZIP code 96050 (Klamath River, Siskiyou County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 96050 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 18
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Klamath River, 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 Klamath River, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Yreka, CA — 19 miles away, elevation 2,710 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 96050

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 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 96050 came on Feb 14 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1).

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 Klamath River, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96050 is Guemes family — very gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Guemes family, 30 to 90 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 96050; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Klamath River, CA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days67days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights142nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,983base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation21.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 27 °F 46°27° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 29 °F 52°29° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 32 °F 58°32° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 43 °F 74°43° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 49 °F 83°49° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 55 °F 93°55° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 54 °F 92°54° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 47 °F 84°47° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 38 °F 70°38° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.94 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.9❄1 JanFebruary: 2.76 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 2.8❄1 FebMarch: 2.55 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.5 MarApril: 1.34 in precipitation 1.3 AprMay: 1.06 in precipitation 1.1 MayJune: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 0.29 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 NovDecember: 3.74 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Yreka, CA (19 mi away); precipitation: Oak Knoll W C, CA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

960858a
Scott Bar, CA · 10 mi
960448a
Hornbrook, CA · 15 mi
960978a
Yreka, CA · 16 mi
960328a
Fort Jones, CA · 19 mi
960378a
Greenview, CA · 21 mi
975308a
Jacksonville, OR · 21 mi
975408a
Talent, OR · 24 mi
960388a
Grenada, CA · 27 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 96050

What planting zone is ZIP code 96050?

ZIP code 96050 (Klamath River, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Klamath River, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96050 is April 30; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Yreka station.

When is the first frost in Klamath River, CA?

The median first fall frost near 96050 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 169 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96050?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 96050 get?

About 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oak Knoll W C station).

How hot do summers get in Klamath River, CA?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 67 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 96050 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Guemes family at the center of ZIP 96050: very gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Klamath River, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 96050 came on Feb 14 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Klamath River, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 96050 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).