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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 30009 — Alpharetta, Georgia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA (840 ft), 5 miles southwest.

Updated

In Alpharetta, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 24 in half of years and has passed by April 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 8, as early as October 27 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 231 days (NOAA, Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA).

Last spring frost
March 24

50% probability

First fall frost
November 8

50% probability

Growing season
231 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
17%

4 of 23 observed

Snow per year
0.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Alpharetta

Half of springs at Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by March 2, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 10 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 56% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 8 in half of years, as early as October 27 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 231 days in a typical year, shorter than at 58% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 258 days one year in ten and falls short of 207 one year in ten. On average 52 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 14 days longer, to about April 7, and return around October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 65%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 21Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 16Apr 22
32°FMar 2Mar 12Mar 16Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4Apr 10
28°FFeb 15Feb 24Feb 28Mar 3Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 21Mar 27
24°FJan 22Feb 1Feb 8Feb 14Feb 19Feb 24Feb 28Mar 6Mar 15
20°F91% of yrsJan 5Jan 15Jan 22Jan 29Feb 1Feb 7Feb 12Feb 21Mar 4
16°F65% of yrsDec 31Jan 7Jan 13Jan 19Jan 25Jan 29Feb 2Feb 7Feb 17
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 17Oct 22Oct 24Oct 27Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 11
32°FOct 27Oct 31Nov 1Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 19Nov 26
28°FNov 4Nov 9Nov 13Nov 17Nov 20Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6Dec 14
24°FNov 15Nov 21Nov 28Dec 2Dec 7Dec 13Dec 22Dec 31Jan 7
20°F91% of yrsDec 1Dec 8Dec 18Dec 26Jan 1Jan 4Jan 10Jan 17Jan 29
16°F65% of yrsDec 14Dec 26Jan 1Jan 4Jan 9Jan 14Jan 19Jan 27Feb 3

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 30009 →Compare Alpharetta with another place →

Weather by month in Alpharetta

July is the warmest month at Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA, averaging 90°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 88% of years and April still brings one in 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,219 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 60% of the 127 Georgia stations. 40% of them (2,075) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 933. Precipitation totals 48.1 inches a year, most in July (5.0") and least in September (3.4"); May to September bring 41% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan54344.3100%1746
Feb58374.398%1167
Mar66434.588%5186
Apr74503.629%1357
May81583.60%0614
Jun87673.80%0805
Jul90705.00%0933
Aug89694.00%0907
Sep84633.40%0703
Oct75513.623%1406
Nov64413.892%5134
Dec56364.299%1362

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA (840 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Mableton 1 N, GA, 6 miles west of Alpharetta, has a last frost 3 days later (March 27), a first frost 1 day earlier (November 7), a season 6 days shorter.

Frost dates for 30127 (Powder Springs) →

When it snows in Alpharetta, Georgia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 23 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Atlanta 9NW, GA, 1.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 30009

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Alpharetta, Georgia
WhenWhat to do
January 13 – January 27Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 27 – February 10Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 24 – March 10Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 24 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 16Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 25Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 8 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 30009 is 5 miles from Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA, which stands at 840 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 12 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 30135 (Douglasville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30009 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Georgia →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8a places in Georgia