National Weather ServiceCaliforniaFreeze WarningArchive to October 1, 2026
Freeze Warnings in California
The National Weather Service issued 47 freeze warnings for California in 2025 and 63 a year on average in 2008-2025; in 2021-2025 it had the 1st most of any state. 2026 through September: 21, 24% below the average of 28 for those months in 2008-2025. Northeastern Mendocino Interior was covered most often (118 times since 2008).
How many freeze warnings does California get?
Every freeze warning that covered part of California. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 21 |
| 2025 | 47 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2023 | 106 |
| 2022 | 100 |
| 2021 | 58 |
| 2020 | 80 |
| 2019 | 75 |
| 2018 | 65 |
| 2017 | 67 |
| 2016 | 52 |
| 2015 | 92 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2013 | 84 |
| 2012 | 56 |
| 2011 | 53 |
| 2010 | 35 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2008 | 28 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year does California get them?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Where in California?
| County or forecast zone | Since 2008 | Since 2023 | Last issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern Mendocino Interior | 118 | 33 | April 17, 2026 |
| Northwestern Mendocino Interior | 115 | 31 | April 17, 2026 |
| Southern Salinas Valley/Arroyo Seco and Lake San Antonio | 107 | 32 | February 11, 2025 |
| Mendocino Coast | 95 | 17 | November 28, 2024 |
| Antelope Valley | 94 | 29 | December 5, 2025 |
| Ventura County Interior Valleys | 93 | 0 | February 25, 2022 |
| North Bay Interior Valleys | 92 | 20 | February 10, 2025 |
| Northern Lake County | 84 | 29 | April 17, 2026 |
| Santa Ynez Valley | 73 | 9 | January 9, 2026 |
| San Luis Obispo County Interior Valleys | 71 | 20 | December 5, 2025 |
| Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc Counties | 71 | 10 | September 7, 2026 |
| Central Siskiyou County | 71 | 10 | October 27, 2025 |
The NWS issues these products for counties or forecast zones; a zone can be part of a county or a mountain range.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
The latest freeze warnings for California in AreaZine's record
NWS MedfordWarningSeptember 6, 2026
Freeze Warning: South Central Siskiyou County, Northeast Siskiyou and Northwest Modoc Counties, Modoc County and 3 more, CA and OR
Expired 9:00 a.m. PDT, September 7, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
What is a freeze warning?
A freeze warning means temperatures at or below 32°F are expected during the growing season, enough to kill crops and sensitive plants. Since 2024-2025 it also covers the colder nights that had a hard freeze warning of their own. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property. AreaZine's counts include the hard freeze warnings issued before the change. The national record · Every warning type in California.