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Climate in Three Rocks · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Three Rocks reaches 100° on about 37 days a year, more than 98% of U.S. towns

Deep winter brings January lows near 39°. The seasons are far apart: from a winter night to a summer afternoon the average spans 58°. Its yearly precipitation falls short of almost every U.S. town. The frost-free window for a garden runs roughly February 27 to November 26.

Drier than all but 71 U.S. towns#43 driest of 758 in CA
Hotter July afternoons than 97% of U.S. towns#163Hottest summers  of 758 in CA
All CA rankings →

A year in Three Rocks at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan56°39° Wettest
Feb62°41° Last frost ~Feb 27
Mar68°45°
Apr74°47° 3 days 90°+
May83°54° 10 days 90°+
Jun90°60° 20 days 90°+
Jul96°65° 28 days 90°+
Aug95°64° 27 days 90°+
Sep90°59° 20 days 90°+
Oct80°51° 5 days 90°+
Nov now66°43° First frost ~Nov 26
Dec56°38°

What stands out about Three Rocks’ climate

Compared with towns across the U.S., with Three Rocks’ place in California beside it.

A normal year

What a year in Three Rocks feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
58° / 39°
Snow is rare
Spring
75° / 49°
Last frost around Feb 27
Summer
94° / 63°
37 days reach 100°
Fall
79° / 51°
First frost around Nov 26
Best months to be outsideFebMarAprMayOctNovHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost, heat & the growing season

About 271 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 27 and the first by November 26. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Five Points 5 Ssw, CA, 16 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft lower.

23
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
589th fewest of 752 in California
Fewer freezing nights than 87% of U.S. towns
0
nights at or below 0°
None in a normal year
114
days that reach 90°
94th most of 752 in California
More 90° days than 96% of U.S. towns
37
days that reach 100°
95th most of 752 in California
More 100° days than 98% of U.S. towns
9bUSDA zone
Plant hardiness zone 9b

The 2023 USDA map puts Three Rocks’ center in zone 9b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 27°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

10
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

28
JFMAMJJASOND
Rain & snow

About 6 inches of rain a year

January is the wettest month and July the driest.

6"
Rain + melted snow a year
43rd driest of 758 in California
Drier than all but 71 U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

1.2"
JFMAMJJASOND
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Three Rocks

53% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through February.

2,204 heating degree daysLess heating than 86% of U.S. towns
1,975 cooling degree daysMore cooling than 83% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Five Points 5 Ssw, CA.

Living here

Living with Three Rocks’ climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.

The garden window

271 frost-free days in zone 9b. The last frost comes by Feb 27 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 26.

Get outside

Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April, May, October and November. 1.0 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Three Rocks from natural hazards, drought is the largest share (88%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 2%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.

Natural hazards →
Next door & far away

Three Rocks and similar climates

TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Three Rocks yet.

Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Three Rocks averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in September (+2.3°).

+1.6°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 67% of U.S. towns.

Winter+1.4°now 49°, was 47°
Spring+1.6°now 62°, was 60°
Summer+1.7°now 78°, was 77°
Fall+1.7°now 65°, was 63°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.

Compared with other towns

How Three Rocks compares

Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Three Rocks’ place among California’s.

Summer heat96° July high
Hotter July afternoons than 97% of U.S. towns163rd hottest of 758 in California
Winter cold39° January low
Milder January nights than 87% of U.S. towns495th mildest of 758 in California
Precipitation6" a year
Drier than all but 71 U.S. towns43rd driest of 758 in California
Hot days114 days at 90°+
More 90° days than 96% of U.S. towns94th most of 752 in California
Freezing nights23 a year
Fewer freezing nights than 87% of U.S. towns589th fewest of 752 in California
Growing season271 frost-free days
A longer frost-free season than 94% of U.S. towns224th longest of 359 in California
Month by month

Three Rocks weather by month

Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Three Rocks’ center. 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + melt30-yr range
January56°39°1.2"43° – 53°
February62°41°1.1"45° – 58°
March68°45°0.9"49° – 65°
April74°47°0.4"55° – 65°
May83°54°0.3"61° – 76°
June90°60°0.0"70° – 80°
July96°65°0.0"76° – 85°
August95°64°0.0"74° – 83°
September90°59°0.1"70° – 78°
October80°51°0.3"62° – 70°
November66°43°0.4"46° – 62°
December56°38°0.8"43° – 52°
Year76°50°5.5"
Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 49° to 65°. December is the most reliable, staying within 8°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal
Sources

Where Three Rocks’ numbers come from

Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →

  • Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Three Rocks’ center.
  • Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Five Points 5 Ssw, CA, 16 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
  • Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  • Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
  • Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).

Common questions about Three Rocks’ climate

What is the weather like in Three Rocks?

A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 39°. Milder January nights than 87% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 97% of U.S. towns.

How cold does it get in Three Rocks in winter?

December nights average 38°. About 23 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 43°.

How hot does it get in Three Rocks?

July, with a typical high of 96° and a low of 65°. About 114 days a year reach 90° and 37 reach 100° (Five Points 5 Ssw, CA).

When is the first and last frost in Three Rocks?

In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by February 27 and the first fall frost by November 26, about 271 frost-free days, at Five Points 5 Ssw, CA.

What growing zone is Three Rocks in?

Zone 9b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 27°.

What is the best time of year to visit Three Rocks?

By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), February, March, April, May, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.

Is Three Rocks getting warmer?

Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.6° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 67% of U.S. towns.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Three Rocks.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.